Most wanted fugitive returns to Puerto Rico to face drug trafficking charges

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A 39-year-old Puerto Rican fugitive, wanted by the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the FBI for murder and drug trafficking, was extradited to Puerto Rico Tuesday from Venezuela. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in Miami provided substantial assistance to the U.S. Marshal's Service in returning this violent fugitive to Puerto Rico.

Oscar Martinez Hernandez, aka Cali, arrived at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan in a DEA aircraft that transported him from Venezuela to face charges he has evaded for many years.

The arrest of Martinez Hernandez by Venezuelan authorities on Jan. 4 stemmed from an ICE HSI lead and subsequent investigation. He was one of PRPD's top ten most wanted fugitives.

Martinez Hernandez escaped from a Puerto Rico prison in 1999 while he was serving 209 years for murder. He also had an outstanding arrest warrant by the DEA for drug trafficking. After being returned from Venezuela, he was transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, to await the outcome of his case.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected narcotic smuggling and related fugitive information by calling at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or visiting its online tip form.