The leader of the Cali cartel asks for early release due to his deteriorated state of health

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(CNN Spanish) - Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela, who was the leader of the Cali cartel, requested his early release from a prison in the United States for his deteriorated state of health.

This Wednesday, a judge in Miami presided over the first hearing to review the motion that was presented by the Rodríguez Orejuela legal team in October 2019.

The request argues that Rodríguez Orejuela, 80, suffers from several diseases, including colon and prostate cancer, which have worsened while serving his sentence. His lawyers say that under these conditions, Rodríguez Orejuela meets the requirements to be released under the "old inmate with medical conditions" program and the "compassion release" law.

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The judge asked the defense for additional documentation that must be submitted to the court in the coming weeks, David Markus, one of Rodríguez Orejuela's lawyers, confirmed to CNN on Thursday.

According to his lawyers, if Rodriguez Orejuela is released, "the plan is for him to live with his wife and daughter in Bogotá, Colombia, where they will attend to their health needs."

CNN contacted the Office of the Prosecutor and the Department of Justice of Colombia to know if, if released, Rodríguez Orejuela would face a judicial process against him in that country, but has not received a response.

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The Colombian drug trafficker is currently serving a conviction for drug trafficking in a North Carolina jail in the United States.

Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela was extradited from Colombia in December 2004 and pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking to the United States. According to the United States Department of Justice, Rodríguez Orejuela and the Cali cartel exported more than 200 tons of cocaine to the United States.