Tampa, FL – United States Lawyer Roger B. Handberg introduced that Edgar Cubillos-Burbano (63, Colombia), alias “Don Julio”, “Julio El Quemado” and “Efrain Ospina”, pleaded responsible to conspiracy. to import 5 or extra kilograms of cocaine into the USA. He faces a compulsory minimal sentence of 10 years to life in federal jail. A sentencing date has not but been set.
Cubillos-Burbano was arrested in Necocli, Colombia on November 10, 2021, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant. He was returned to the USA on September 20, 2023.
In keeping with the plea settlement, Cubillos-Burbano was the proprietor and operator of clandestine cocaine laboratories in northern Colombia and was allowed to function these laboratories with the permission of Clan Del Golfo, the biggest drug cartel in Colombia. He provided numerous patrons, together with the Clan Del Golfo, and the cocaine was despatched both to Central America for closing importation into the USA or Europe.
On July 5, 2015, Colombian legislation enforcement seized roughly 3,082 kilograms of cocaine close to the coast of Capurgana, Colombia, on the border between Colombia and Panama. One of many defendant's cocaine patrons was answerable for smuggling this cargo (pictured beneath), half of which was destined for the USA.
After his arrest in Colombia in reference to this case, Cubillos-Burbano admitted his involvement on this smuggling enterprise to federal brokers. He additionally admitted to working clandestine cocaine laboratories with the permission of Clan Del Golfo, together with a laboratory able to producing 300 to 400 kilograms of cocaine each 15 days.
This prosecution is a part of a Strike Pressure Initiative Forces Activity Forces Organized Crime Drug Enforcement (OCDETF), which supplies for the creation of everlasting multi-agency process pressure groups working facet by facet in the identical location. This co-located mannequin permits brokers from totally different businesses to collaborate in intelligence-led multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle essentially the most important drug traffickers, cash launderers, gangs and transnational felony organizations.
The particular mission of the OECDTF Panama Categorical Strike Pressure is to disrupt and dismantle transnational felony organizations concerned in large-scale drug trafficking, cash laundering and associated actions. The OECDTF Panama Categorical Strike Pressure is comprised of brokers and officers from the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Safety Investigations. The Division of Justice's Workplace of Worldwide Affairs, the Workplace of the Judicial Attaché of the Narcotics and Harmful Medicine Part on the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, and the Colombian authorities offered a big help in securing the arrest and extradition from Colombia of Cubillos-Burbano.
The prosecution is being led by the USA Lawyer's Workplace for the Center District of Florida. He’s being prosecuted by Assistant United States Lawyer Dan Baeza.
