Colombia extradited Geovany Andres Rojas, accused of leading Comandos de la Frontera, to the US. The group is linked to cocaine trafficking in Putumayo; Rojas was flown to California and placed in federal custody to face drug-trafficking and terrorism charges.
President Abelardo de la Espriella announced the extradition Friday and personally oversaw Rojas’s transfer. His predecessor, Gustavo Petro, had shielded Rojas from extradition to use him as a mediator in talks between the government and armed and criminal groups. De la Espriella has scrapped peace talks and launched military operations against armed groups since taking office in August. The New York Times reported that US authorities had previously investigated de la Espriella over alleged ties to powerful drug traffickers; he was never charged.
Comandos de la Frontera was formed by former FARC members. After the 2016 peace deal, breakaway groups from the former rebel movement competed for control of drug routes and other illicit industries. Rights groups warn that renewed military confrontation could lead to abuses by government forces and escalating violence; many Colombians support a tougher response to criminal groups, whose operations have often caused violence and mass displacement of civilians.
