9, 2007, Gomez was extradited from Cuba to Colombia. Shortly before Gomez was extradited, he stated, in an interview for RCN TV, that he had shipped as much as 11 tons of cocaine in one night to the United States, the cocaine belonging to former United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia para-military leader Salvatore Mancuso. He further stated that the Cuban government attempted to have him implicated, with the Colombian President, Álvaro Uribe, offering at one point to release him if he did. On July 19, 2007 the extradition procedure began with Colombian police transporting Gomez from the Cómbita maximum security prison to be handed over to agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Gomez was outfitted with a bulletproof vest as he was transported to the airport for extradition. The cited fear was an attempt on his life by other drug traffickers or corrupt politicians fearing what testimony he may give. It is believed his testimony and personal computer will show links to political officials and police as well as expose the Colombian cocaine trade and the Norte del Valle Cartel. Gomez was believed to be happy for his extradition to the U.S. citing death threats from rival cartels since arriving in the Colombian prison system. The head of Colombia's judicial police, Col. Cesar Pinzon, who has called Gomez the "capo of capos", has verified that the prison authorities had received intelligence regarding assassination attempts and moved prisoners to prevent them from occurring. Trial On October 18, 2008, Gomez pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in a Washington court. He also admitted sending over 500,000 kilograms of cocaine to America through Mexico between 1990 and 2004 as well as conspiracy to make and distribute more than 10,000 kilograms of cocaine destined for the US. Due to an extradition agreement between the United States and Colombia, Gomez cannot receive a life sentence, so prosecutors were instead looking for a multi-year prison sentence. Norte del Valle Cartel The Norte del Valle Cartel is believed to have shipped 500 tons of cocaine since 1999 in relation to the 600 tons per year estimated to ship from all of Colombia, an estimated value of over 10 billion. Gomez and the cartel have paid right-wing paramilitary militias to protect smuggling routes. The cartel is believed to be the last in Colombia that managed the complete process from the cultivation of the coca to the production of