Submariner Smugglers Extradited to Face International Cocaine Distribution Charges
Elkin Armando Alomia Quiñones, Luis Alberto Arboleda Escobar, Diego Luis Obregon Aguirre, Edwin Obregon Castro, Juan Matias Obregon Castro, Rodrigo Obregon Saavedra and Narjel Paredes, seven Colombian nationals, were extradited to the United States from Colombia yesterday and are set to be arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn today. They are charged with violations of the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act and international cocaine distribution conspiracy.
The indictment alleges that the defendants, members of a Colombian transnational maritime drug trafficking organization, conspired to traffic more than five tons of cocaine in semi-submersible vessels to Mexico, ultimately for distribution in the United States. The defendants allegedly used sophisticated maritime drug distribution operations, managing each step of the process, from finding investors to finance multi-ton cocaine loads to using self-propelled semi-submersible vessels like submarines to transport the cocaine.
“As alleged, the defendants are members of a Colombian transnational maritime drug trafficking organization who sought to clandestinely traffic tons of cocaine on semi-submersible vessels to Mexico, ultimately for distribution in the United States,” stated United States Attorney Joseph Nocella. “With these arrests and extraditions, the defendants’ smuggling scheme has been sunk and holding them accountable in a U.S. courtroom demonstrates the Administration’s resolve through Operation Take Back America and the Homeland Security Task Force to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from these evildoers.”
According to the indictment and court filings, the defendants were members of an international drug trafficking organization (DTO) that conspired to traffic over five tons of cocaine in semi-submersible vessels launched from the Pacific coast of Colombia towards areas controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. The drug trafficking organization allegedly conducted a sophisticated maritime drug distribution operation, managing each step of the process.
Mr. Nocella praised the outstanding investigative work of DEA New York’s Task Force, DEA Bogota and HSI New York’s Homeland Security Task Force Cartel Investigations Group. He also expressed his appreciation to Colombia’s Cuerpo Técnico de Investigación, the Colombian Navy, DEA Puerto Rico, DEA Madrid, HSI Bogota and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico for their substantial assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá provided significant assistance in this matter.
HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso stated, “Today, seven alleged drug smugglers are facing charges in the United States after years of unchecked cocaine trafficking. Homeland Security Investigations’ international footprint gives us the ability to track bad actors back to the source and, through our partnerships, bring them to justice.”
DEA Northeast Regional Associate Chief of Operations Frank A. Tarentino III stated, “The extradition of these seven individuals underscores DEA’s global pursuit to identify and target those responsible for trafficking illicit narcotics destined for the United States. Using submersible vessels in a calculated attempt to evade law enforcement doesn’t make you invisible! Whether you attempt to hide beneath the surface or above, the DEA, alongside our domestic and international partners, will relentlessly pursue and defeat those drug trafficking organizations threatening our communities and killing Americans.”
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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