The kingpin once responsible for sending more Colombian cocaine into the United States than anyone has been sentenced to 45 years in prison.

A federal judge in Miami also ordered 48-year-old Diego Montoya Sánchez to pay $500,000 (£301,000) in restitution today. In August he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine, racketeering conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Authorities say Montoya, known as "Don Diego," headed the North Valley cocaine cartel from 1990 to 2004. In that time, the cartel exported 1.2m pounds of cocaine worth $10bn.

Montoya said he started down the wrong path after his family abandoned him at age 14. He apologised to families of those killed by drug violence and said he now hopes to live "a life of peace and purpose".