BROOKLYN, NY. - An indictment was unsealed yesterday in federal court in Brooklyn charging 10 leading members of “Los Rastrojos," a paramilitary organization that employed hundreds of individuals and controlled the drug trade along the Pacific coast of Colombia, with the international distribution of more than 25,000 kilograms of cocaine and money laundering. In addition, the organization’s principal leader, Javier Antonio Calle Serna, also known as “Comba," was charged with operating a continuing criminal enterprise and with murder. The indictment also seeks the criminal forfeiture of up to $1 billion in assets. The indictment was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and John P. Gilbride, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Field Division.
As detailed in the indictment, beginning in approximately 2004, Los Rastrojos, in partnership with Mexican drug cartels, exported multi-ton shipments of cocaine from Colombia to the United States, via Mexico, Venezuela, and other countries in South and Central America. In addition to exporting their own shipments, Los Rastrojos also charged other Colombian narcotics trafficking organizations a “tax" on shipments of narcotics traveling through territory and coastal areas under Los Rastrojos’ control.
On June 1, 2011, President Obama designated defendant Calle Serna a Significant Foreign Narcotics Trafficker under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation (the “Kingpin Act"), implemented by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. This designation freezes all property and property interests owned or controlled by Calle Serna and prevent domestic and foreign individuals, companies, and countries from engaging in any financial transactions with him.
DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Gilbride stated, “The scourge of drug trafficking casts a shadow over the rule of law. These arrests demonstrate the combined will of local, state, federal and international law enforcement to identify and bring to justice drug traffickers at the highest levels responsible for inundating our communities with illegal drugs."
“This indictment is the result of an ongoing international effort to dismantle narcotics trafficking organizations that export cocaine from Central and South America into the United States," said United States Attorney Lynch. “We will continue to be vigilant in our efforts to bring alleged international narcotics traffickers to justice."
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn Pokorny, Daniel Silver, and Justin Lerer.
The Defendants: -
JAVIER ANTONIO CALLE SERNA, also known as “Comba," “Combatiente," “El Cantante," “La Doctora," “La Tia," “El Apa," “Papa," “La Senora," “La Firma," “Combat" and “Mortal" Age: 42
LUIS ALBERTO BELLO PABON, also known as “Mauricio," “Rodolfo" and “Roman" Age: 48
GILBERTO MIRANDA ROJAS, also known as “Eduardo," “Emilio" and “Henry Rengifo" Age: 48
WILLIAM CARDENAS FORERO, also known as “John," “Cabo," “Willy" and “William" Age: 47
FRANCISCO JAVIER GARCIA, also known as “Pacho Garra" Age: 38
ADOLFO ERAZO ROSERO, also known as “Chiguiro," “Chiki," “Enano," “Olmedo," “Stiven" and “Juanes" Age: 39
HEDER AUGUSTO SARRIA MARTINEZ, also known as “Nino Malo" Age: 42
HECTOR EFREN MENESES YELA, also known as “Guara," “Viejo," “Animalito," “Gordo," “Gordito," “Rodri" and “Rodrigo" Age: 40
JOSE MANUEL ALVAREZ TONGUINO, also known as “Mani," “Indio," “Dulce," “Salado," “Salidito," “Dulcecito," “Manuel" and “Manimoto" Age: 39
HERMEL ARNUBIO ALARCON DIAZ, also known as “Pequenito," “Bajito," “Enano" and “Arnold" Age: 39
