Two Colombian citizens are currently facing extradition to the United States for their suspected involvement in a human smuggling operation that led to the tragic disappearance of numerous migrants at sea.
Two individuals are accused of participating in a human trafficking scheme called La Agencia, or The Agency. This operation involved transporting migrants from San Andrés Island, a popular tourist spot in Colombia’s Caribbean region, to Nicaragua, where they would then proceed to the United States.
According to a recently unsealed federal indictment in the Western District Court of Texas, two individuals, Hernando Manuel de la Cruz Rivera Orjuela, also known as “Patron” or “Boss,” aged 52, and Luis Enrique Linero, aged 40, were implicated in a conspiracy involving the disappearance of a vessel carrying around 40 migrants, primarily Venezuelans, including children, in October 2023. The boat and its passengers have yet to be located.
Colombian authorities, in collaboration with the U.S., apprehended Rivera and Linero as part of Joint Task Force Alpha.
“In a statement, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the effectiveness of Joint Task Force Alpha as a powerful tool in combating the insidious operations of human smuggling, which perpetuate suffering and exploitation.”
In 2021, the establishment of Joint Task Force Alpha aimed to combat migrant smuggling in Central America and Mexico. The Justice Department has reported impressive outcomes, with more than 345 arrests and 290 convictions attributed to their efforts.
In June, the task force expanded its efforts to tackle migration through the Darien Gap, a jungle pass notorious for its dangerous conditions and increasing migrant traffic. This expansion included Colombia and Panama. As a result, the recent arrests of Rivera and Linero mark the first successes of this initiative.
La Agencia offers a safer alternative to the perilous journey through the Darien jungle by providing a secure boat route to Central America.
Adam Isacson, the leader of the defense oversight program at the Washington Office on Latin America, believes that the arrests have the potential to deal a major blow to networks that utilize this particular route.
Isacson pointed out that by targeting certain key nodes in the network, the movement over the maritime space to Nicaragua could be significantly reduced.
Joint Task Force Alpha is primarily dedicated to investigating cases of migrant smuggling that encompass additional elements of concern. These may include instances where migrants are subjected to systematic violence or exploitation, as well as operations that lead to mass casualty events. For instance, the task force was involved in addressing the tragic incident of a boat disappearing off the Colombian coast. Another example is the investigation into a semi-trailer crash in Southern Mexico in 2021, which resulted in the devastating loss of 50 migrants’ lives.
Migrant smuggling as a stand-alone offense carries relatively low mandatory minimum sentences compared to offenses like drug smuggling. However, prosecutors can seek harsher punishments by considering aggravating factors. For instance, Rivera and Linero have been charged with a felony that has a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Katrina W. Berger, the executive associate director of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which spearheaded the investigation into the smuggling network, expressed deep concern over the alleged conspirators’ involvement in a dangerous human smuggling operation. She emphasized that their actions not only put human lives at risk but were also driven by a desire for financial gain.
Analysts predict that the Joint Task Force Alpha, which was initiated by the Biden administration, is expected to persist or potentially grow in scope during the incoming Trump administration.
