A 45-year-old Colombian national, Adrian Alberto Cano Gomez, is set to make his initial appearance in a U.S. federal court today, facing serious charges of narco-terrorism and the distribution of kilogram quantities of cocaine from Colombia.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei made the announcement in a press release on April 24, revealing that Cano Gomez, an alleged member of the National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional, or ELN), was extradited from Colombia and is now in Houston.
He will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo at 2 p.m. on April 25.
The unsealed indictment, returned on March 23, 2023, identifies ELN as a Colombian guerrilla group officially designated as a foreign terrorist organization since October 8, 1997.
The organization is noted for its expansive operations and is said to be among the largest narco-terrorism entities globally.
Cano Gomez faces multiple charges including conspiracy to distribute cocaine internationally, distribution of a controlled substance, and knowingly providing support to an organization engaged in terrorism or terrorist activities, classified as narco-terrorism.
U.S. Attorney Ganjei emphasized that this case is far from a typical drug enforcement situation.
He stated, “This is not a routine drug case, nor is the ELN the typical drug trafficking organization. Rather, this terror group has used American communities to fund its violent activities and destroyed countless lives in the process.”
Ganjei characterized Cano Gomez’s extradition as a critical milestone in the ongoing effort to dismantle the connection between narcotics trafficking and terror financing.
He affirmed that anyone engaged in such activities is not beyond the reach of the American justice system, stating, “This extradition is a big step towards this office’s goal of dismantling the narcotics-to-terrorism pipeline.”
Douglas Williams, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Houston Field Office, echoed this sentiment, noting the extraterritorial reach of U.S. law enforcement.
“For years, Cano Gomez has allegedly acted as a liaison for international drug trafficking for the ELN, with drugs making their way into American communities.”
The ongoing investigation and resultant legal actions aim to disrupt the trafficking operations and associated violence stemming from this foreign terrorist organization.
William Kimbell, acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA in Houston, also commented on the implications of Cano Gomez’s actions.
He stated that the ELN has long profited at the expense of American communities through cocaine trafficking.
Kimbell emphasized the severity of the charges facing Gomez, who allegedly played a significant role in facilitating cocaine distribution from Colombia to the United States.
The indictment claims that Cano Gomez and his accomplices were part of a 16-year conspiracy involving the distribution of cocaine, with knowledge or intent to financially support the ELN.
A specific incident cited in the indictment includes the alleged involvement of Cano Gomez in distributing approximately 15 kilograms of cocaine in November 2021, fully aware it was destined for the U.S. market.
Colombian law enforcement agencies took Cano Gomez into custody in March 2024, following a request from the United States.
The indictment remains sealed against those individuals who have yet to be apprehended.
Multiple agencies collaborated in the investigation, including the FBI and DEA’s Houston Field Offices and the U.S. Marshals Service, as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF).
Agents from the FBI and DEA in Bogota also provided significant support, alongside the Department of Justice’s Special Operations Division.
The operation, referred to as Operation Selva Roja, is part of a broader initiative known as Operation Take Back America.
This nationwide campaign aims to utilize the full resources of the Justice Department to combat illegal immigration, dismantle drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime.
Operation Take Back America integrates efforts and resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal Alaniz from the Southern District of Texas are tasked with prosecuting this high-profile case.
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