Former Southampton and Portsmouth midfielder Jhon Viafara extradited to USA after being accused of smuggling two TONNES of cocaine worth £21M from his native Colombia

Former Southampton and Portsmouth defender Jhon Viafara has been extradited to the US from his native Colombia to face drug-smuggling charges.

Prosecutors in Texas have accused Viafara of conspiring with members of the Gulf Cartel to organise cocaine shipments that left Colombia on speedboats.

Viafara is accused of importing two tonnes of cocaine into the States, which equates to a staggering £21million. 

Prosecutors have been investigating the former Premier League player for three years.

Viafara, 41, was arrested last year on a US drug warrant and says he is innocent.

Images supplied by Colombian police show officers fingerprinting him at Bogota's international airport and escorting him to a small jet headed for Texas.

The ex-midfielder, whose alias is 'El Futbolista', told reporters before boarding the plane to the States of his time behind bars.

In 2004, he helped Colombian team Once Caldas win the Libertadores Cup, South America's top club competition. 

He also played for several Colombian club teams and the national team, as well as LaLiga side Real Sociedad, before retiring in 2015.