Monday Mar 13, 2023 - Colombia - Congresswoman Aida Merlano, Colombian Cocaine-Smuggling Mishap, Upset at the World Baseball Classic

These are the trending news headlines in Colombia on Monday March 13, 2023

Venezuela has extradited former congresswoman Aida Merlano to Colombia to serve her 15-year prison sentence and act as a key witness in high-profile corruption cases. Merlano fled to Venezuela in 2019 after a jailbreak and has since testified against former Senate President Arturo Char, who is being investigated for vote-buying. Merlano has also made allegations of political corruption in Colombia, particularly in the Caribbean region. Her return is expected to expedite investigations into corruption practices of the Char Clan and their allies in politics. Merlano has claimed her prison break was coordinated by the Char Clan with the purpose of assassinating her.

Two Dead in Colombian Cocaine-Smuggling Mishap. During a recent drug interdiction operation, Colombian authorities discovered more than just a 2.6-tonne haul of cocaine hydrochloride. Two smugglers were found dead on board a 50-foot semisubmersible vessel off the country's Pacific coast. The Colombian Navy team found the bodies next to the cargo of drugs and the survivors, who were suffering from poor health, were taken for medical attention. The drug shipment, worth nearly $90 million, was bound for a transshipment hub in Central America. The fight against cocaine smuggling is an ongoing enterprise for US and allied forces.

In a surprising upset at the World Baseball Classic, Colombia's Guillermo Zuñiga shone in a David vs. Goliath moment, as his team shocked Mexico in extra innings, winning 5-4. This thrilling match overshadowed Mike Trout's striking out twice in Team USA's victory over Great Britain, which was far less surprising. Despite Trout's status as one of the best players in the majors, he was outmatched by pitchers who haven't been in the majors for years or who played in Single-A. However, this tournament often pits David against Goliath, and the unexpected matchups make it all the more exciting.

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