Seven Colombian citizens were arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn on March 27 after being extradited from Colombia to face charges of violating the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act and participating in an international cocaine distribution conspiracy. The defendants, arrested in Colombia in March 2025, are accused of being members of a transnational maritime drug trafficking organization that used semi-submersible vessels to transport large quantities of cocaine toward Mexico for eventual distribution in the United States.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to combat drug trafficking organizations that use sophisticated methods to evade law enforcement and threaten public safety. According to the indictment, the group allegedly conspired to move more than five tons of cocaine using self-propelled semi-submersible vessels launched from Colombia’s Pacific coast toward areas controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr., Associate Chief of Operations Frank A. Tarentino III from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Northeast Region, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York announced the extraditions. “As alleged, the defendants are members of a Colombian transnational maritime drug trafficking organization who sought to clandestinely traffic tons of cocaine on semi-submersible vessels to Mexico, ultimately for distribution in the United States,” said Nocella. “With these arrests and extraditions, the defendants’ smuggling scheme has been sunk and holding them accountable in a U.S. courtroom demonstrates the Administration’s resolve through Operation Take Back America and the Homeland Security Task Force.”
Tarentino said: “The extradition of these seven individuals underscores DEA’s global pursuit to identify and target those responsible for trafficking illicit narcotics destined for the United States... Whether you attempt to hide beneath the surface or above, the DEA... will relentlessly pursue and defeat those drug trafficking organizations threatening our communities.” Alfonso added: “Today, seven alleged drug smugglers are facing charges in the United Stated after years of unchecked cocaine trafficking. Homeland Security Investigations’ international footprint gives us... ability to track bad actors back to source... These drugs have done untold damage... HSI works alongside our law enforcement partners every day...”
According to court filings cited by prosecutors, members financed multi-ton loads and vessel construction before hiring crews for transport operations; they also used fishing boats as countersurveillance along shipping routes. On June 27 and October 7 last year, Colombian Navy authorities seized approximately 2,312 kilograms and 3,300 kilograms respectively from such vessels en route from Colombia's Pacific coast toward Mexico.
The prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorneys Lorena Michelen and Katherine P. Onyshko with support from several agencies including DEA New York’s Task Force as well as counterparts across Puerto Rico, Madrid, Bogotá and multiple branches within Colombia.
The U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of New York supports community outreach efforts according to its official website. The office maintains locations in Brooklyn and Central Islip per its website, handles both federal criminal prosecutions as well as civil matters representation according to its official site, is led by Breon Peace as noted online, covers Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island plus Nassau & Suffolk Counties as indicated officially, operating as designated federal prosecutor's office for this district according to its website.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
