Nicholas J. Ganjei United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A Colombian national, Adrian Alberto Cano Gomez, aged 45, faces charges of narco-terrorism and international cocaine distribution in a U.S. federal court. He was extradited from Colombia and is scheduled for an appearance on April 25 before Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo in Houston. These charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Cano Gomez is allegedly associated with the National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional, or ELN), designated as a foreign terrorist organization since October 8, 1997. The unsealed indictment from March 23, 2023, describes ELN as a major narco-terrorism group.
Charges against Cano Gomez include an international cocaine distribution conspiracy and providing material support of a pecuniary nature to a terrorist organization. U.S. Attorney Ganjei emphasized, "This is not a routine drug case, nor is the ELN the typical drug trafficking organization."
Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI noted the significance of Cano Gomez’s extradition: "The extradition of suspected narco-terrorists like Cano Gomez to the United States is another example of how FBI Houston’s reach extends beyond geographic borders."
The Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) acting Special Agent in Charge, William Kimbell, highlighted ELN’s long-standing operations: "For over a decade, this ELN foreign terrorist organization allegedly profited off American communities by trafficking in cocaine and devastating countless lives."
The ongoing 16-year conspiracy outlined in the indictment includes actions taken by Cano Gomez and associates to send cocaine from Colombia to the U.S. Colombian authorities arrested him in March 2024 at the U.S.'s request.
The investigation was conducted by the Houston Field Offices of the FBI and DEA, assisted by U.S. Marshals Service. This was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) with cooperation from Colombian authorities and international partners.
Known as Operation Selva Roja, this effort forms part of the broader Operation Take Back America initiative, which aims to combat illegal immigration and dismantle criminal organizations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal Alaniz are leading the prosecution in the Southern District of Texas.
An indictment signifies formal charges but does not equate to proof of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in court.
