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Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Colombian narco-terrorists charged in federal indictment
LOS ANGELES - Federal authorities announced two Colombian nationals, described as narco-terrorists, have been charged in a six-count indictment. What we know Jacobo Idrobo Arredondo, 39, known as "Marlon Vásquez," and Juan Diego Palta Montero, 26, known as "Ñeque," are accused of leading a cocaine-manufacturing ring that trades drugs for firearms to support terrorist activities in Colombia, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Arredondo and Montero are senior members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army (FARC-EP). The charges include attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to engage in narco-terrorism, and conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine for unlawful importation. Arredondo faces an additional charge of possession of firearms, machine guns, and destructive devices in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Both men are believed to be in Colombia and remain at large. The indictment, unsealed on May 5, describes FARC-EP as a dissident faction of the FARC terrorist group, which rejected a 2016 peace agreement with the Colombian government. FARC-EP is considered Colombia's most powerful and violent dissident group, responsible for assassinations, extortion, hostage-takings, and armed assaults. The group targets Colombian government and military personnel but has also attacked infrastructure, civilians, and U.S. military personnel in Colombia. Four other Colombian nationals were charged in a related indictment. Jorge Eliecer Luque Monsalve, 53, known as "Jorge Col," and Rubén Darío García Londoño, 41, known as "Bencho," were arrested by Colombian authorities. García has been extradited to the U.S. and appeared in court in Los Angeles on May 5, pleading not guilty. His trial is set for July 1. An indictment is an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 50 years and a maximum of life imprisonment. FARC-EP uses propaganda videos to assert control over Colombia, threaten rivals, and recruit young Colombians. Idrobo has appeared as a primary speaker in some of these videos. The group controls a region responsible for producing about 70% of Colombia's cocaine. The backstory Designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. in December 2021, FARC-EP collaborates with other terrorist organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel and Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). From March 2023 to March 2024, Idrobo and Palta allegedly attempted to provide FARC-EP with thousands of rounds of ammunition, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, grenades, and machine guns, obtained by trading cocaine manufactured in Colombia-based laboratories. In May 2023, a drug deal in Colombia involved seven kilograms of cocaine intended for importation into the U.S., including Southern California, exchanged for Colombian pesos worth approximately $10,715. In December 2023, a co-conspirator traveled to the Czech Republic on Idrobo's behalf to inspect weapons for the cocaine trade. Discussions included plans to use rocket-propelled grenade launchers against Colombian government targets. Later that month, investigators said the defendants distributed approximately 21 kilograms of cocaine, packaged with images of the Hollywood sign, to a buyer. The investigation is being led by the DEA's Los Angeles Field Division and Bogotá Country Office, with assistance from Colombian and Czech authorities, and the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs. The Source Information from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Narco-terrorists charged with exchanging cocaine for weapons in war against Colombian government
The United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California announced Monday that a commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army (FARC-EP) terrorist organization and his associate were charged in a federal indictment alleging they lead a cocaine manufacturing ring that trades contraband for weapons to engage in terrorist activity in Colombia. According to the six-count superseding indictment, which was unsealed on May 5, the two men charged are: 39-year-old Iván Jacobo Idrobo Arredondo (also known as 'Marlon Vásquez) and 26-year-old Juan Diego Palta Montero (also known as 'Ñeque'). Both defendants have been charged with: One count of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization One count of conspiracy to engage in narco-terrorism One count of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine for the purpose of unlawful importation One count of conspiracy to possess firearms, machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense One count of distribution of cocaine for the purpose of unlawful importation Additionally, Idrobo is charged with a count of possession of firearms, machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Both men are believed to be in Colombia, the Department of Justice said. 'From March 2023 to March 2024, Idrobo and Palta knowingly attempted to provide material support and resources to FARC-EP by way of thousands of rounds of ammunition, including for AK-47s, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, grenades and machine guns — weapons they attempted to obtain by exchanging cocaine they had manufactured and distributed at Colombia-based laboratories they and others co-owned and operated,' the DOJ's media release states. Police: Business owner fatally shot man connected to 'associate' he was conducting private sale with Federal authorities described one deal that occurred in March 2023 when over 15 pounds of cocaine that was intended for importation and distribution to the United States — including Southern California — in exchange for Colombian pesos worth more than $10,700. A separate exchange took place in December of that year when a co-conspirator traveled to the Czech Republic to examine weapons that would be traded for cocaine to be imported to the U.S., officials said. 'Following a meeting with a purported weapons supplier, the co-conspirator discussed how FARC-EP sought to obtain rocket-propelled grenade launchers to shoot at the Colombian presidential palace, Colombian army helicopters, Colombia's Supreme Court building, local police stations, and the place where Colombian President Gustavo Petro was located, to force Colombia's government to respect them,' the DOJ said. 'Later that month, the defendants, along with a co-conspirator, distributed approximately 21 kilograms — 46.3 pounds — of cocaine packaged in materials depicting the Hollywood sign to a buyer.' A related indictment also unsealed on May 5 charges four other Colombian nationals, although only two, 53-year-old Jorge Eliecer Luque Monsalve (also known as 'Jorge Col') and 41-year-old Rubén Darío García Londoño (also known as 'Bencho') have been arrested by Colombian authorities. The DOJ says that Luque is pending extradition to the U.S., while García has already made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on May 5. García was ordered detained pending trial and entered a not guilty plea. His trial is scheduled to begin July 1. If convicted on all charges, the defendants would face a mandatory minimum of 50 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum life sentence. Suspect in Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing left behind 'anti-pro-life' writings The indictment describes FARC-EP as a dissident faction of the larger FARC terrorist group and states that it emerged after the rejection of a peace agreement between the larger group and the Colombian government in 2016. 'FARC-EP is Colombia's most powerful and violent dissident group and has continued to carry out criminal acts, including assassinations, extortion, hostage takings and armed assaults,' the DOJ said, adding that the group 'focuses most of its attacks on Colombian government and military targets but has also attacked critical infrastructure, Colombian civilians, and U.S. military personnel in the country.' FARC-EP has been designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government since December 2021. It is known to partner with other international cartels such as the Sinaloa Cartel, the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación and Nueva Familia Michoacana. The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative from the Department of Justice to 'repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
