Terrorist Charges for “Chiquito Malo”
Chiquito Malo is the nickname of Jobanis de Jesús Villadiego, leader of Colombia’s largest criminal gang, the Clan del Golfo.
New York, Apr 17 (EFE).-
The United States Department of Justice announced on Friday new terrorism-related charges against the leader of the Clan del Golfo, Colombia’s largest criminal gang, Jobanis de Jesús Ávila Villadiego, alias ‘Chiquito Malo.’
The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York stated in a press release that three additional charges were added to the indictment: narcoterrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and providing or attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
The 49-year-old man, who is a fugitive, has previously been charged with operating a criminal enterprise, trafficking cocaine, and using firearms as the leader of the Clan del Golfo, designated a terrorist group by the US, from October 2021 to April 2026, the statement noted.
”For the Clan del Golfo, narcotics trafficking and terrorism are two sides of the same coin of instability. This fifth superseding indictment demonstrates that we will continue to pursue Avila Villadiego until he is brought to justice before the American legal system,” said District Attorney Joseph Nocella.
”Chiquito Malo” took over the gang following the arrest of the previous leader, Dairo Antonio Úsuga David, alias “Otoniel,” in October 2021, and “has continued to be involved in multi-ton shipments of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico and Central America for ultimate importation into the United States,” the US Attorney’s Office states.
Under the drug lord’s command, the armed gang has committed murders, kidnappings, and acts of violence to protect itself and attack authorities, and exercises control over a large territory in Urabá, in the border region of Antioquia, where it coordinates its drug trafficking operations, the statement explains.
The new indictment is the result of collaboration between several US agencies, including Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, and Colombian authorities.
Ávila Villadiego was among the names of several drug trafficking leaders that the Colombian government handed over to the United States in February following the meeting between presidents Gustavo Petro and Donald Trump at the White House.
’Otoniel’ was extradited to New York in 2022 and pleaded guilty in 2023 to running a criminal enterprise, for which he was sentenced to 45 years in prison. EFE
nqs/mcd
