Seven Colombian nationals were arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn on March 27 after being extradited from Colombia to face charges of maritime drug law violations and international cocaine distribution conspiracy. The defendants, Elkin Armando Alomia Quiñones, Luis Alberto Arboleda Escobar, Diego Luis Obregon Aguirre, Edwin Obregon Castro, Juan Matias Obregon Castro, Rodrigo Obregon Saavedra, and Narjel Paredes, are accused of participating in a transnational organization that used semi-submersible vessels to traffic tons of cocaine toward Mexico for eventual distribution in the United States.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to combat international drug trafficking organizations that use advanced methods to evade detection. According to the indictment and court filings, the group conspired to move more than five tons of cocaine using custom-built submersible vessels launched from Colombia’s Pacific coast toward areas controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said: “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. 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 to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from these evildoers.”
Frank A. Tarentino III of the Drug Enforcement Administration 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 and killing Americans.” Michael Alfonso from Homeland Security Investigations 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 the ability to track bad actors back to the source and… bring them to justice.”
According to official records from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, this office supports community outreach efforts as well as victim assistance programs; it maintains offices in Brooklyn and Central Islip; prosecutes federal crimes; represents civil matters; covers Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County; operates as designated federal prosecutor’s office for its district; with Breon Peace serving as its current United States Attorney.
This prosecution is part of an initiative led by Executive Order 14159 focused on eliminating criminal cartels operating within or targeting U.S. territory through interagency collaboration.
