Colombia extradites alleged armed group leader to US
The transfer of Geovany Andres Rojas marks a break with the previous government’s use of him as a proposed mediator in talks with armed groups.
Colombia has extradited Geovany Andres Rojas to the United States, where he faces drug trafficking and terrorism charges. President Abelardo de la Espriella announced the transfer on Friday and oversaw Rojas’s handover to US authorities.
Rojas, also known as “the Spider”, was flown to California and placed in federal custody. He is accused of leading Comandos de la Frontera, a group associated with cocaine trafficking in Putumayo, near the borders with Ecuador and Peru. The allegations have not been established in the material provided.
De la Espriella said he had asked US authorities to prevent Rojas from negotiating a deal that would leave his alleged crimes unpunished. His government has scrapped peace talks with armed groups and launched military operations since he took office in August.
The extradition reverses the approach of former president Gustavo Petro, who had shielded Rojas from extradition to use him as a mediator in negotiations with armed and criminal groups. The Al Jazeera report frames the transfer as part of a tougher security policy and closer alignment with Washington.
Groups that split from the former FARC after the 2016 peace deal have competed for drug routes and other illicit industries, the report says. Rights groups warn renewed military confrontation could lead to abuses by government forces and an escalation in violence.
