Pubdate: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 Source: Tampa Tribune (FL) Copyright: 2009 The Tribune Co. Contact: http://www.tbo.com/news/opinion/submissionform.htm Website: http://www.tampatrib.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446 Author: Elaine Silxestrini, Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) FISHING BOAT OWNER PLEADS GUILTY IN DRUG SMUGGLING CASE TAMPA - The owner of three fishing boats that were seized after authorities found them smuggling cocaine from Colombia pleaded guilty this morning to a federal drug offense. Adelmo Perlaza-Montano, 50, faces 10 years to life in prison on a charge of conspiring to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. Perlaza-Montano, who was extradited recently from Colombia, agreed to cooperate in Operation Panama Express, a wide-ranging, Tampa-based investigation of maritime drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The defendant belonged to a drug trafficking organization headed by Daniel Segura-Rodriguez, who also has been arrested in Colombia and is awaiting extradition, investigators say. For at least six years, Perlaza-Montano owned or was administrator for fishing vessels used to transport multi-ton shipments of cocaine to Mexico, according to his plea agreement. The drugs were destined for the United States. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin