U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced the arrest of 17 alleged members of a Colombian drug trafficking organization, charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine in the Eastern District of Texas.
The suspects, indicted by a federal grand jury on February 27, 2013, are accused of importing and distributing large quantities of cocaine from Colombia and Mexico to the United States. The investigation was a collaborative effort between U.S. law enforcement agencies and the Colombian National Police.
Of the 17 defendants, 10 have been taken into custody. Those who remain at large face up to life in federal prison if convicted.
The DEA’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Daniel R. Salter highlighted the ongoing global effort to combat drug trafficking, emphasizing the partnership between U.S. and Colombian law enforcement agencies.
This case is part of an ongoing joint investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), HSI-ICE, and the Colombian National Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ernest Gonzalez is leading the prosecution.
Despite the charges, all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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