Israeli Linked to Colombia Drug Lords Slain in Miami

MIAMI —  An Israeli businessman linked to mercenaries who trained Medellin drug cartel gunmen was found dead at the airport here, stuffed into the trunk of a car, police said today.

The body of Arik Afek was discovered after Metro-Dade police received complaints of an offensive odor coming from a car in the Miami International Airport parking garage, police said.

The cause of death was not immediately announced, but was being investigated as a homicide, police said.

Israeli television reported that Afek, who has a home just outside Miami, was named in connection with Israeli mercenaries in Colombia who trained drug lords.

He also allegedly helped reserve Israeli army Lt. Col. Yair Klein escape Colombia after reports emerged he was training the guards of drug lords there. Klein later said he thought he was training farmers to fight guerrillas.

Afek and Klein were named in a Colombian arrest warrant in September, according to the Colombian news agency Colprensa, but Israel refused to extradite Klein.

Israel television also claimed that Afek was being investigated by the CIA, which had given him a U.S. passport in return for information on Israeli activity in Colombia.