Drug trafficking

2 Colombian nationals extradited on charges of using clandestine air shipments to smuggle multi-ton loads of cocaine

Two Colombian drug kingpins have been extradited to Los Angeles on federal charges for allegedly overseeing multi-ton shipments of cocaine from Colombian laboratories to Central American distribution hubs that were ultimately destined for sale in Los Angeles and elsewhere in the U.S.

Dicson Penagos-Casanova, 36, and Juan Gabriel Rios Sierra, 34, are charged in an indictment unsealed Tuesday with spearheading the conspiracy to “coordinate aerial shipments of ton-quantities of cocaine” for sale to “cocaine-trafficking syndicates” in Central America. The shipments included more than $70 million in cocaine recovered by international law enforcement.

The charges are the result of a probe by special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration in Los Angeles and Colombia; the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force; and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The Colombian, Aruban and Dutch governments also provided substantial assistance.