Former Real Sociedad midfielder Jhon Eduis Viáfara Mina returns home after US prison term cut | OneFootball

Former Real Sociedad midfielder Jhon Eduis Viáfara Mina, 48, has been freed from a US federal prison and has returned to Colombia. According to Diario Vasco, he flew into Bogotá last Thursday and is now at home in Jamundí with his family.

His case began in March 2019 when he was arrested in Cali in a joint operation by Colombian police and the DEA. He was accused of serving as a key logistics coordinator in a network linked to the Clan del Golfo and the Sinaloa Cartel, shipping cocaine towards the US.

Extradited in January 2020, he initially received a 135-month sentence from a Texas court, while repeatedly maintaining his innocence. Sentence reductions for good behaviour and prison programmes led to early release after roughly half of his original term.

In a 2022 interview from Atlanta prison he said he did not knowingly break the law, adding he would have avoided a meeting had he known it would cause problems. He suggested even being listed as present at such a meeting could prompt extradition.

Friends celebrated his return, among them Once Caldas physiotherapist José Miguel Rodas and former goalkeeper Carlos Bejarano, who posted messages of support.

For Real Sociedad supporters his name recalls a turbulent 2005-06. He joined on loan from Portsmouth in January 2006, made 11 LaLiga appearances and was sent off twice, before returning to England and later playing for Southampton and clubs across Colombia.

Source: Diario Vasco