Brazilian national extradited from Bogota, Colombia for conspiracy to import more than 700 kilograms of cocaine

A Brazilian national made his initial appearance in federal court today on charges related to his alleged conspiracy to import more than 700 kilograms of cocaine into the United States.

Trevor Rodrigues, age 39, arrived at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport this week after being extradited from Colombia.  The indictment unsealed today charges Rodrigues with conspiracy to unlawfully import more than 5 kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to the United States.   

Rodrigues was indicted on February 28, 2018, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.  With the assistance of Colombian authorities, Rodrigues was arrested in Bogota, Colombia by the Colombian National Police on February 16, 2019.  The Government of Colombia approved the extradition on January 22, 2020.  He was then extradited to the United States by the United States Marshals Service on March 18, 2020.

“The extradition of this defendant to the United States demonstrates the resolve of our office and the Justice Department, even during this time of national emergency, to protect our communities and enhance public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Herdman.  “This defendant is alleged to have engaged in a conspiracy to import more than 700 kilograms of cocaine into our country.  As we know all too tragically here in Ohio, cocaine is not a glitzy party drug – it’s a stone-cold killer and responsible for almost half of our overdoses in Cuyahoga County last year. The DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are still open for business.  Drug traffickers, violent criminals, and gang members should be on notice.  Whether you’re in Cleveland or Cartagena, if you’re a threat to the Northern District of Ohio, we will find you and deliver you to a courtroom here.”

“We will continue to track down transnational criminals no matter where in the world they reside or do business,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin.  “This indictment is a great example of law enforcement and prosecutors from different countries working together to safeguard communities and having an impact on crime on a global scale.”

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency, Cleveland Office of the Detroit Division, with assistance from DEA offices in the following jurisdictions: Miami, Florida; Freeport, Bahamas, New Haven, Connecticut; Cartagena, Columbia; and West Palm Beach, Florida.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Corts and Patrick Burke are prosecuting the case.

The Justice Department extends it gratitude to the Government of Colombia for making the extradition possible. The United States Marshal’s Service and the Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from Colombia.