Two ex-Navy personnel indicted for aiding drug traffickers

Two former Colombian Navy personnel have been extradited to the United States for allegedly aiding drug traffickers in a scheme to evade law enforcement. Jair Alberto Alvarez Valenzuela, 54, and Luis Carlos Diaz Martinez, 32, are accused of conspiring to distribute cocaine while having knowledge that it might be illegally imported into the U.S. Federal officials announced that the duo had developed contacts within the Navy who provided critical information about the locations of law enforcement vessels. They allegedly persuaded active-duty sailors to install GPS tracking devices on Colombian Navy ships. These devices allowed drug traffickers to monitor the movements of naval vessels and avoid detection while transporting cocaine. The group they reportedly worked for is believed to be the Gulf Clan, one of Colombia's most powerful drug trafficking organizations. The Gulf Clan has been known for its extensive operations from regions like Urabá, which has access to both the Caribbean and Pacific oceans. The four navy vessels targeted by the pair included highly capable ships such as the ARC Antioquia and ARC Punta Espalda. These vessels are tasked with intercepting smuggling boats in the Caribbean waters. Between November 2022 and March 2023, the tracking devices provided real-time data to drug traffickers, helping them navigate around the Navy's patrol routes. The long-standing efforts to combat drug trafficking in Colombia face ongoing challenges as traffickers continue to innovate. Authorities have responded with various strategies, but drug smuggling remains a persistent issue, with modern methods including the use of submarines and disguised fishermen acting as spies in patrolled waters.