9 hrs ago
Colombia Extradites Rebel Commander to United States Under New President
Colombia sent an alleged rebel and drug-trafficking leader to the United States for prosecution.
His name is Geovany Andres Rojas, and he is also called “Spider.”
U.S. prosecutors accuse him of drug trafficking and conspiracy.
They say the alleged activities involved Colombia and Ecuador and began in 2017.
Rojas was arrested in February 2025 during peace-talk activities in Colombia.
Those talks were organized under former President Gustavo Petro.
The current president, Abelardo De La Espriella, has stopped many of those negotiations.
Instead, his government is using military operations against armed groups.
The extradition is the first involving a senior illegal-armed-group commander under the new president.
Colombia extradited alleged drug-trafficking leader Geovany Andres Rojas, known as “Spider,” to the United States.
Rojas is accused of leading the Border Commands faction of the former FARC rebel group.
U.S. prosecutors allege that Rojas participated in drug trafficking and criminal conspiracy in Colombia and Ecuador since 2017.
He was arrested in February 2025 while participating in activities connected to government peace talks with armed groups.
President Abelardo De La Espriella has ended negotiations with illegal armed groups and launched a military offensive against them.
- Who
- Colombian authorities extradited Geovany Andres Rojas, known as “Spider,” to the United States; President Abelardo De La Espriella announced the move.
- What
- Rojas, an alleged leader of the Border Commands faction, was handed over to U.S. officials to face drug-trafficking and criminal-conspiracy accusations.
- Where
- Rojas was transferred at a Colombian National Police air base in Bogotá and is accused of activities in Colombia and Ecuador.
- When
- The extradition was reported on September 25; Rojas was arrested in February 2025.
- Why
- U.S. prosecutors seek to prosecute alleged drug-trafficking and conspiracy offenses, while Colombia says it will pursue international drug-trafficking networks.
Negotiation-focused approach
Security-focused approach
Dealing with armed groups
Negotiation-focused approach
Former President Gustavo Petro sought negotiations with FARC dissident factions and the ELN through his Total Peace policy.
Security-focused approach
President Abelardo De La Espriella ended negotiations with illegal armed groups and adopted a military offensive to retake territory.
Extradition and prosecution
Negotiation-focused approach
The account does not report a specific objection from peace-talk supporters to this extradition, but Rojas was arrested while participating in activities linked to government peace talks.
Security-focused approach
The government says extradition is necessary to prevent Colombia from becoming a refuge for drug traffickers and to pursue trafficking networks from cultivation to leadership.
Key facts
- Extradited person
- Geovany Andres Rojas, also known as “Spider”
- Alleged group
- Border Commands, a faction of the former FARC rebel movement
- U.S. accusations
- Drug trafficking and criminal conspiracy
- Alleged activity period
- Since 2017
- Arrest
- February 2025, at a hotel in Bogotá
- Extraditions announced
- President De La Espriella said his administration had carried out 94 extraditions
- Policy change
- The new administration ended negotiations with illegal armed groups and launched a military offensive
Quotes
Abelardo De La Espriella
Colombia’s president
“Colombia will not be a refuge for drug traffickers wanted by international justice”
theprint.in
Sources
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