Colombia seizes drug traffickers' properties

The Associated Press
4:59 p.m. September 10, 2009

BOGOTA — Police in Colombia have seized $55 million in properties and assets from drug traffickers, including shares in a popular soccer team.

A police statement says the operation took place over two days in five cities in Antioquia state and six cities in Cundinamarca state.

Among the items seized were 66 properties, including 25 ranches and 18 businesses, and shares in the Independiente Medellin soccer team.

Prosecutor Cesar Velez said Thursday that 700 of Independiente Medellin's 6,000 shares were confiscated. It is one of several top-division Colombian clubs alleged to have had close ties to traffickers.

Officials said the properties belonged to various trafficking groups, and may be auctioned off or used to house displaced people.

(This version CORRECTS time element to Thursday sted Friday in graf 4.)

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