Colombian national Jose Orlando Buitrago-Rodríguez, also known as “Tito el Borracho,” has been extradited to the United States to face drug trafficking charges in the District of Puerto Rico. The extradition was announced by U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico and Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office.
Buitrago-Rodríguez is accused of leading a transnational criminal organization based in Colombia that allegedly sent more than ten thousand kilograms of cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela to Puerto Rico and the continental United States, often via the Dominican Republic. According to authorities, most of these shipments were then moved into the mainland United States for distribution.
A federal grand jury indicted Buitrago-Rodríguez on January 27, 2023, charging him with international conspiracy to distribute cocaine, importation of cocaine, and attempt to import cocaine. The indictment includes a narcotics forfeiture allegation concerning 14 properties and five vehicles.
The U.S. Attorney General designated Buitrago-Rodríguez as a Consolidated Priority Organizational Target (CPOT) in 2022. The CPOT list focuses government efforts on high-level leaders of organizations believed to have significant impact on illegal drug supply in the United States.
“This prosecution and extradition demonstrate the Department of Justice’s relentless efforts to eliminate international drug cartels flooding our streets with deadly drugs and to bring their leaders to justice,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “This case also highlights the strategic and critical role that Puerto Rico plays in defending our nation against TCOs, cartels, and foreign terrorist organizations.”
“This capture is another step in our fight to crush violent crime. It reflects what our mission demands—relentless pursuit, disciplined execution, and zero tolerance for those who threaten our communities,” said Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “We will hunt down the drivers of violence—wherever they run, however long it takes.”
The investigation involved several agencies including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Coast Guard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and San Juan Municipal Police.
Buitrago-Rodríguez was arrested in Colombia on January 22, 2024 at the request of U.S. authorities through coordination with Colombian officials. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs played a key role in securing his arrest and extradition.
In July 2025, Colombian authorities seized assets linked to Buitrago-Rodríguez following information provided by U.S investigators; this included 18 properties such as vehicles, land lots, farms, houses, and commercial establishments valued at about $6.77 million.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio L. Pérez-Alonso is prosecuting the case under supervision from Chief Myriam Y. Fernández-González and Deputy Chief María L. Montañez-Concepción from the Asset Recovery, Money Laundering & Transnational Organized Crime Section.
If convicted on all counts related to drug trafficking charges, Buitrago-Rodríguez faces a minimum sentence of 10 years up to life imprisonment.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative created by Executive Order 14159 aimed at combating criminal cartels and transnational criminal organizations operating within or targeting the United States.
Federal agencies participating in HSTF San Juan include: FBI; Department of Homeland Security; ICE Homeland Security Investigations; U.S Attorneys’ Offices for Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands; Marshals Service; Customs & Border Protection; DEA Caribbean Division; Coast Guard Sector San Juan; IRS; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives Miami Field Division RAC San Juan; Postal Inspection Service Miami Division San Juan Field Office; Secret Service RAC San Juan; Transportation Security Administration Federal Air Marshal; Federal Aviation Administration.
State and local partners include police departments from Puerto Rico municipalities such as San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo among others as well as agencies like Puerto Rico National Guard Counter Drug Program and Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation.
An indictment is only an allegation until proven otherwise in court.
