ERO Baltimore arrests Colombian gang leader wanted for homicide, arms trafficking, aggravated theft

BALTIMORE — Enforcement and Removal Operations Baltimore apprehended a unlawfully present Colombian fugitive and leader of a violent criminal organization who is wanted by authorities in his home country for homicide, arms trafficking and aggravated theft charges. Deportation officers from ERO Baltimore’s Fugitive Operations Team arrested the 29-year-old Colombian fugitive July 31 at his residence in College Park.

The Colombian fugitive is a validated leader of the Las Colinas criminal organization based in Santa Marta, Colombia.

“This Colombian fugitive is wanted by authorities in his home country for allegedly committing some violent crimes,” said ERO Baltimore acting Deputy Field Office Director Vernon Liggins. “He attempted to hide from justice in Maryland, and we simply cannot allow that to happen. Our officers are the best in the world at finding people who don’t want to be found, and we will not allow our Maryland communities to become safe havens for the world’s bad actors. ERO Baltimore will continue to prioritize public safety by apprehending egregious noncitizen offenders.”

U.S. Border Patrol encountered the Colombian national Sept. 14, 2023, after he unlawfully entered the United States near San Ysidro, California. Border Patrol officials served the Colombian noncitizen with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.

U.S. Border Patrol transferred custody of the noncitizen to ERO San Diego Sept. 16, 2023. Later that day, ERO San Diego served him an order of release on recognizance and released him from custody.

Colombian authorities are actively seeking custody of the Colombian fugitive, citing charges of arms trafficking, aggravated theft and homicide.

On July 12, 2024, ERO Baltimore learned that the Colombian fugitive was is unlawfully present in the United States and potentially residing in the Maryland area.

Deportation officers from ERO Baltimore’s Fugitive Operations Team arrested the 29-year-old Colombian fugitive July 31 at his residence in College Park. The Colombian national remains in ERO custody.

ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. The Executive Office for Immigration Review is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.

Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the ICE online tip form.

As one of ICE’s three operational directorates, ERO is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.

Learn more about ERO Baltimore’s mission to increase public safety in our Maryland communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBaltimore.