Ex-Southampton midfielder Jhon Viafara extradited to US after being accused of smuggling two tonnes of cocaine worth £21M from Colombia (photos)

Former Southampton midfielder, Jhon Viafara, has been extradited to the US from his home country 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.

The 41-year-old, who was arrested last year on a US drug warrant is accused of importing two tonnes of cocaine worth £21million into the United States.

Photos released by Colombian police show officers escorting him to a small jet at Bogota’s international airport headed for Texas.

Before boarding the plane to the States, the former football star told reporters of his time behind bars in his country.

He said: ‘I used to share a changing room with Messi, but now I’m having to share a room with somebody who has been at war in our country.’

The former Colombia international who retired from football in 2015, played for Southampton, Real Sociedad, Portsmouth and La Equidad among other clubs.