Edwin Congo name may not ring a bell to most football fans including Real Madrid fans. But he is now known for the wrong reason.<\/p>\n
The Colombian striker joined Real from Once Caldas for \u20ac5 million in 1999, which made him the most expensive Colombian player in history at the time.<\/p>\n
But he never played an official game in front of Madridistas, instead he found himself on loan for several years including Real Valladolid, Vitoria Guimaraes of Portugal and French side Toulouse.<\/p>\n
Congo joined Levante permanently in 2002 and stayed for four years joining Sporting Gijon and Recreativo de Huelva.<\/p>\n
He managed to play 17 games for the Colombia national team, including the Copa America in 1999 and 2004.<\/p>\n
Today, Congo was among 18 people arrested in Madrid after he was suspected of involving in drug smuggling operation after\u00a0police seized a ton of cocaine that was smuggled between layers of cardboard fruit boxes.<\/p>\n
“Eighteen people arrested and a ton of cocaine impregnated in the carton of fruit boxes seized thanks to an international macro-operation led by the National Police,” a statement said.<\/p>\n
Congo questioned by police but he was subsequently\u00a0released.<\/p>\n
In Spanish TV program “El Chiringuito,” Congo defends himself and plead innocence.<\/p>\n
“They asked me a series of questions and after that, I returned home. They showed me photos of people I had been introduced to. The police told me I should stay away from people who aren’t good for me, that I need to do things a different way.<\/p>\n
“They asked me if I was connected to cocaine trafficking. I don’t have anything to do with it. I do business with one of the people in the photos, but with emeralds.<\/p>\n
“I’ve tried to make a living via this friend, who is the one who has the connection. He was someone who was helping me. I’m calm because I don’t deal cocaine, I don’t have cocaine at home.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am innocent, I have absolutely nothing to do with the sale, manufacture or anything that has to do with cocaine.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"