World's biggest coke dealer El Loco is sentenced to 35 years in New York courtroom

Colombian, Daniel Barrera Barrera, described as one of history's biggest cocaine dealers was sentenced to 35 years in prison Monday by a Manhattan judge who called the scope of his crimes 'staggering'

Daniel Barrera Barrera, also known as 'Loco' or 'The Madman', was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gregory Woods in Manhattan after pleading guilty to various narcotic-related charges and to having conspired to engage in money laundering.

Woods, who also fined Barrera $10 million and ordered him to forfeit the same amount, called the Colombian national a 'smart, talented, maybe even gifted man' who went from working as a farm hand to heading a violent drug trafficking organization.

'Simply put, the scope of the offense here is staggering,' Woods said.

Speaking through a Spanish translator before the sentence was imposed, Barrera said he wanted the opportunity to be released from prison someday and see his grandchildren.

'I ask for my family's forgiveness for all of the suffering I have caused them,' he said.

According to authorities, Barrera, 48, had been one of the most prolific drug traffickers of the last two decades before his capture in Venezuela in 2012 following years in hiding.

Barrera owned a number of homes in Colombia and they have all been seized by the authorities 

Around 48 cars were confiscated by authorities who took over Barrera's assets after his arrest 

World's biggest coke dealer El Loco is sentenced to 35 years in New York courtroom