Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella has announced the extradition of Geovany Andres Rojas, an alleged leader of a drug trafficking organization, to the United States. This move reflects a shift in Colombia’s security policy towards closer alignment with Washington. Rojas, who is accused of leading a group formed by former members of the FARC rebel group, was transferred to US custody on September 26, 2026.
President De La Espriella stated, "You don’t build peace by protecting narco-terrorists like this bandit," emphasizing his stance against negotiating with individuals involved in drug trafficking. His predecessor, Gustavo Petro, had previously shielded Rojas from extradition to use him as a mediator in peace talks with armed groups. However, De La Espriella has abandoned this approach, opting for a crackdown on groups that emerged after the 2016 peace deal with FARC.
Rojas, also known as "the Spider," was flown to California and is expected to face drug trafficking and terrorism charges in the US. He allegedly commanded Comandos de la Frontera, a group involved in cocaine trafficking in the Putumayo province, which borders Ecuador and Peru. The extradition aligns with US efforts to expand military operations in Latin America to combat crime and drug trafficking, particularly during the Trump administration.
Rights groups have raised concerns that a return to militarized confrontation could result in human rights abuses and increased violence. Nevertheless, many Colombians support a tougher stance against criminal organizations, which have been linked to violence and mass displacement of civilians.