A Colombian national, Adrian Alberto Cano Gomez, 45, has been extradited to Houston to face charges related to narco-terrorism and the international distribution of cocaine. The announcement came from U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Cano Gomez, alleged to be a member of the National Liberation Army (ELN) – designated a foreign terrorist organization since 1997 – appeared in court on April 25 in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo.
The indictment accuses Cano Gomez of participating in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine internationally. Additional charges include distributing a controlled substance and providing pecuniary support to terrorism-related activities. "This is not a routine drug case, nor is the ELN the typical drug trafficking organization," stated Ganjei. He emphasized the significance of the extradition as part of efforts to dismantle the narcotics-to-terrorism pipeline.
Douglas Williams, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, highlighted the extradition as evidence of the FBI Houston's extended reach beyond borders. "For years, Cano Gomez has allegedly been a liaison of international drug trafficking for the ELN," Williams remarked, noting the impact of the extradition on curbing drug operations and violence perpetrated by the foreign terrorist organization.
According to acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the DEA’s Houston division, the ELN reportedly profited from American communities for over a decade by trafficking cocaine. Cano Gomez is believed to have facilitated cocaine distribution from Colombia. The charges pertain to a 16-year conspiracy involving the shipment of cocaine from Colombia to the United States to support the ELN financially.
In November 2021, Cano Gomez allegedly partook in the distribution of approximately 15 kilograms of cocaine, intended for import into the United States. He was apprehended by Colombian authorities in March 2024 at the request of the U.S.
The indictment remains sealed regarding individuals who have been charged but not yet taken into custody. The investigation was led by the Houston Field Offices of the FBI and DEA, supported by the U.S. Marshals Service, part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). The operation, known as Operation Selva Roja, is part of the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative, Operation Take Back America.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal Alaniz of the Southern District of Texas are handling the prosecution. The indictment represents an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.