An indictment was unsealed in Brooklyn federal court, charging six individuals with conspiring to violate the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act and engaging in an international cocaine distribution conspiracy. The charges stem from the seizure of over 5,000 kilograms of cocaine intended for distribution in the United States. The accused were apprehended in Colombia, and their extradition to face charges in the Eastern District of New York is being pursued by U.S. authorities.
John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced these developments alongside Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge at DEA New York, and Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge at HSI New York.
Durham stated: "As alleged, the defendants are members of a Colombian transnational maritime drug trafficking organization that specializes in building semi-submersible vessels and using the vessels to transport multi-ton quantities of cocaine to Mexico and Central America, for ultimate distribution in the United States." He further emphasized his office's commitment to prosecuting these defendants: "With today’s arrests, the defendants’ conspiracy has been torpedoed. The United States will not tolerate the export and distribution of dangerous drugs into our homeland."
DEA New York's Tarentino remarked on the significance of this operation: "The removal of over 5,000 kilograms of cocaine from international waters destined for the United States illustrates the DEA’s global pursuit to identify and target those international drug traffickers and Transnational Criminal Organizations."
HSI New York's Alfonso added: "As alleged, investigators repeatedly intercepted the defendants' attempts to transport cocaine via semi-submersible vessels traveling through international waterways."
The investigation revealed that these individuals led a sophisticated maritime drug operation involving semi-submersible vessels designed to carry large quantities of cocaine from Colombia to areas controlled by Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel before reaching U.S. markets.
Key seizures include a June 2023 interception of approximately 2,312 kilograms of cocaine aboard one such vessel and another seizure in October 2023 involving approximately 3,300 kilograms.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative focused on dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
The defendants face serious legal consequences if convicted; each could receive a minimum sentence of ten years up to life imprisonment. The prosecution is led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lorena Michelen and Katherine Onyshko from the International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section.
