Three foreign nationals have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic cocaine from Colombia through Honduras and into the United States, according to court documents released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Colombian national Humberto Cantillo Duran, also known as Niño or Juan Carlos, 37; Honduran national Mario Rodolfo Mejia-Cubillas, also known as Yofo, 54; and Honduran national Edgardo Rene Velasquez Navarro, also known as Burro, 54, led a drug trafficking organization based in Colón, Honduras. The group was responsible for distributing thousands of kilograms of cocaine valued at millions of dollars into the United States. The operation involved receiving shipments from South America in eastern Honduras before moving them through Central America and ultimately to the U.S.
Cantillo Duran coordinated shipments from Colombia to Honduras and helped find buyers such as Mejia-Cubillas and Velasquez Navarro. Once the cocaine arrived in Honduras, it was unloaded and prepared for further transport under their supervision. Honduran law enforcement intercepted communications among the conspirators discussing shipments, payments, violence against rival traffickers, sources of supply in South America, and details about the U.S. market being their final destination. Authorities in Honduras seized several large shipments moved by the group.
All three individuals pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine with intent for unlawful importation into the United States.
Sentencing took place over several months: Velasquez Navarro received 12 years in prison on March 11; Mejia-Cubillas was sentenced to 13 years and four months on April 1; Cantillo Duran was sentenced yesterday to 15 years.
“Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Christopher C. Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.”
“Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristin S. Starr, Anthony T. Aminoff, and Philip Alito prosecuted the case.”
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations by coordinating resources from Department of Justice programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs).
Further information about this case can be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Additional court documents are available through PACER by searching Case No. 1:23-cr-142.
