Colombian authorities have successfully apprehended two notorious Norwegian drug traffickers, Berntsen Bjarte and Pazooki Farhad, significantly disrupting a major cocaine trafficking operation to Europe. Bjarte, known as “The Professor,” led a transnational crime ring that smuggled cocaine from South America to Europe using sailboats. His right-hand man, Farhad, was also captured upon arrival in Colombia.

Bjarte was detained in the Atlantic Ocean off Barranquilla while sailing under the Norwegian flag. He is known for purchasing vessels in Spain and traveling to South American countries such as Ecuador and Colombia, where he would load them with cocaine to be distributed throughout Europe. Colombian authorities revealed that Bjarte’s operations were closely linked with the Colombian Clan del Golfo and Mexican drug structures, as well as the Balkan cartel in Europe.

Bjarte, a former mathematics teacher, has been involved in drug trafficking for over two decades. His criminal career includes several prison escapes and extravagant criminal activities, which were detailed in the Norwegian media outlet NRK’s radio documentary “Senses and Emotions.” Bjarte gained notoriety for stunts such as flying a stolen plane through Oslo City Hall and parachuting from prominent buildings.

Pazooki Farhad, a Norwegian-Iranian citizen and Bjarte’s accomplice, was captured at El Dorado Airport in Bogota. Farhad attempted to enter Colombia from Turkey to evade European authorities and was identified by his distinctive tattoos. He was found carrying valuable gold, silver, and diamond jewelry worth approximately 120 million Colombian pesos (US$29,615).

Both individuals have been handed over to the Attorney General’s Office for future extradition. Their arrests add to the 51 others made across European countries, leading to the dismantling of a vast criminal network involved in drug trafficking via “narco sailboats.” Colombian police reported that the organization utilized seven such vessels for their illicit activities.