Colombia has extradited an alleged drug trafficking leader to the United States, marking a significant shift in the country’s security policy towards closer cooperation with Washington.
President Abelardo de la Espriella announced on Friday that Geovany Andres Rojas, also known as “the Spider,” had been extradited to the US. Rojas is accused of leading Comandos de la Frontera, an armed group linked to cocaine trafficking in Colombia’s Putumayo province, near the borders with Ecuador and Peru.
De la Espriella personally supervised Rojas’s transfer before he was flown to California and handed over to US federal authorities. He is expected to face drug trafficking and terrorism charges in the United States.
“You don’t build peace by protecting narco-terrorists like this bandit,” de la Espriella said, urging US authorities to ensure that Rojas does not negotiate a deal that would allow him to escape punishment.
Rojas had previously been protected from extradition by former President Gustavo Petro, who sought to use him as a mediator in negotiations with armed and criminal groups. Petro’s government preferred negotiations and peace talks over direct military confrontation.
However, de la Espriella, who took office in August, has abandoned that approach. His administration has suspended peace negotiations and launched military operations against armed groups, particularly factions that emerged from the former FARC rebel organisation following the 2016 peace agreement.
These groups have competed for control of lucrative drug trafficking routes and other illegal businesses.
The Colombian government’s new approach has brought it closer to the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has expanded security and military cooperation in Latin America as part of its campaign against drug trafficking and organised crime.
Human rights organisations have warned that increased military operations could lead to abuses by security forces and further violence. At the same time, some Colombians have expressed support for tougher measures against criminal groups blamed for violence and the displacement of civilians.
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