DOJ Official Discusses Risks of Migrant Smuggling After 42 People Go Missing at Sea

<p>A guilty plea from a Colombian smuggler has highlighted a perilous route to the United States following the disappearance of a boat carrying 42 people at sea. Luis Enrique Linero Pinto, 41, also known as 'El Calvo,' pleaded guilty in federal court in El Paso, Texas, after being extradited from Colombia for his involvement in a smuggling conspiracy that utilized bribery and maritime routes to transport migrants north.</p><p>The boat departed from Colombia’s San Andrés Island for Nicaragua on October 21, 2023, carrying approximately 40 migrants and two captains. It has not been located, and no one aboard has been heard from since.</p><p>Assistant Attorney General Tysen Duva, who leads the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, described the situation as particularly tragic. He stated, 'These individuals are, of course, missing and presumed dead, and it appears that there were no survivors.'</p><p>Duva emphasized that the disappearance illustrates the dangers posed by transnational smuggling organizations that exploit vulnerable migrants. He remarked, 'It’s all about money,' indicating that those involved in smuggling operations prey on individuals seeking better opportunities.</p><p>According to the Justice Department, Linero Pinto provided guidance to migrants on reaching San Andrés Island, arranged accommodations, and facilitated their transportation to boats bound for Nicaragua. From there, the migrants intended to travel through Central America and Mexico before attempting to enter the United States illegally.</p><p>Linero Pinto also bribed members of the Colombian Navy for real-time intelligence on patrol vessels, enabling smuggling boats to evade capture, as stated in court documents. He admitted to assisting in the smuggling of the migrants aboard the boat that disappeared in October 2023.</p><p>Duva noted that the victims had not even completed the initial segment of their journey when they vanished. He warned that the dangers extend beyond the open water, as migrants face treacherous conditions while traveling through South and Central America and across the U.S.-Mexico border. Those who reach the United States may find themselves in debt and at risk of being forced into sex trafficking.</p><p>Linero Pinto was charged in October 2024 and arrested in Colombia in December at the request of the U.S. government. He was extradited to the United States and made his first court appearance in El Paso in December 2025. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and placing lives in jeopardy, facing a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, with a sentencing date yet to be determined.</p><p>The case against alleged co-conspirator Hernando Manuel de la Cruz Rivera is still pending. This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, a Justice Department initiative targeting cartels and transnational organizations involved in human smuggling and trafficking.</p><p>Duva acknowledged the support from the Trump administration for providing additional resources to pursue smugglers and cartels. He stated that funding approved through Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill allowed the Criminal Division to hire more prosecutors and place experienced attorneys in key sections.</p><p>Duva emphasized the task force's focus on criminal networks along the southern border, maritime routes near Florida, and the northern border with Canada. He warned smugglers that the Justice Department's reach is extensive and that they will pursue cases regardless of their origin.</p><p>Joint Task Force Alpha has resulted in over 483 domestic and international arrests, 436 U.S. convictions, and more than 371 significant prison sentences, according to the Justice Department.</p><p>Duva stated that the mission should transcend partisan politics, as the networks targeted pose threats to both migrants and American communities. He concluded by reiterating the Justice Department's goal of eliminating cartels and criminal organizations profiting from human suffering.</p><p>Duva remarked on the tragic nature of the vanished boat incident, stating, 'I don’t know that I’ve ever heard of anybody who survives that one after several months and a year.' He expressed hope that this case would raise awareness of the dangers associated with smuggling operations.</p>