In a shocking case of international cocaine trafficking, two Colombian nationals have been sentenced to 19 years in prison. German Bustos-Alarcon a/k/a ‘Puma’ and Rafael Alvarez-Pineda a/k/a ‘Chepe’ were each handed down a 235-month sentence for their involvement in a large-scale cocaine trafficking organization based in Colombia.

According to the indictment, Bustos-Alarcon and Alvarez-Pineda conspired to traffic large amounts of cocaine from Colombia, through Central America, with the eventual destination being the United States. The duo was charged in a single-count indictment in the Southern District of Florida for their participation in the cocaine trafficking organization.

On July 20, 2010, Bustos-Alarcon and Alvarez-Pineda were charged with participating in the large-scale drug trafficking organization based out of Colombia. They were members of the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) and were principal lieutenants of AUC Leader Ramiro Vanoy-Murrillo a/k/a ‘Cuco Vanoy’.

After the AUC leaders were extradited from Colombia to the United States in May 2008, Bustos-Alarcon and Alvarez-Pineda moved into leadership roles in the area of Caucasia, Colombia. They formed a drug trafficking alliance with Colombia’s largest and most influential BACRIM, CLAN USUGA.

The cocaine trafficking organization purchased cocaine from laboratories and sold it to members of the CLAN USUGA, who then transported the narcotics to Central America and eventually on to the United States. This case is the result of the ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).

The OCDETF mission is to identify, investigate, and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking enterprises, bringing together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state, and local law enforcement. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the DEA.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael B. Nadler. The cases can be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

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