Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
A Colombian drug trafficking leader, Jorge Hernan Gonzalez-Ortiz, 49, was sentenced to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison in Tampa, Florida, on November 14, 2025. He was convicted for his role in a conspiracy to import over 43,000 kilograms of cocaine, valued at approximately $1.3 billion, into the United States. Gonzalez-Ortiz pleaded guilty to the charges on January 14, 2025, following an extensive investigation into his sophisticated trafficking operation.
Investigation Details
From 2016 to 2023, Gonzalez-Ortiz established and led a major drug trafficking organization based in Colombia. This network utilized commercial airplanes and maritime vessels to transport cocaine, often concealed in boxes of fruit, from Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali, Colombia.
The illicit cargo was initially flown to Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport in San Andrés Island, Colombia. From there, it was smuggled by boat to either Nicaragua or Honduras, before being transported via land routes through Mexico to reach the United States. The organization’s operations involved at least 27 commercial flights from Cali, moving an estimated 43,000 kilograms of cocaine.
The trafficking ring was significantly aided by corruption within Colombian law enforcement and airport personnel. At least 20 corrupt Colombian police officers facilitated the movement of drugs. A security supervisor at the Cali airport also played a crucial role by diverting security cameras to allow cocaine to be imported through external gates.
Other airport staff, including those responsible for altering cargo manifests, luggage cart drivers, and warehouse personnel, were also complicit in loading and unloading the cocaine. A pivotal moment in the investigation occurred on July 29, 2023, when Colombian National Police interdicted 1,310 kilograms of cocaine after it was offloaded from a commercial aircraft in San Andrés Island, providing critical evidence against the organization.
Law Enforcement Collaboration
This prosecution was a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, specifically the Panama Express Strike Force. This initiative establishes permanent multi-agency task force teams to collaborate on intelligence-driven operations, disrupting and dismantling major drug traffickers and transnational criminal organizations.
Agencies involved in the investigation included the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Colombian National Police’s Dirreccion de Antinarcotics (DIRAN), and the Colombian Equipo de Trabajo Investigativo Control Aeronaves (ETICA). Assistant United States Attorney David J. Pardo led the prosecution of the case.
Key Takeaways
The sentencing of Jorge Hernan Gonzalez-Ortiz underscores the persistent efforts by U.S. and international law enforcement to combat large-scale drug trafficking. His conviction effectively dismantled a significant criminal enterprise responsible for funneling billions of dollars worth of cocaine into the United States, highlighting the ongoing challenges and successes in combating global narcotics operations.
