Accused Drug Lord ‘The Spider’ Extradited to US from Colombia

Geovany Andres Rojas, a prominent Colombian drug lord known by the alias “Araña” or “The Spider,” was flown to California on Friday and handed over to federal agents. His extradition follows a lengthy legal battle marked by a pause initiated by Colombia’s former government.

Rojas faces charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism in the United States. He served as a spokesperson and leader for Comandos de la Frontera, a rebel organization accused of cocaine trafficking in the Putumayo region, which borders Ecuador and Peru.

For months, Rojas was shielded from deportation by former President Gustavo Petro, who designated him a peace negotiator to facilitate talks with various rebel groups. However, the newly elected conservative government, led by President Abelardo de la Espriella, revoked the extradition ban, marking a significant pivot in national security policy.

“You don’t build peace by protecting narco-terrorists like this bandit,” President de la Espriella stated after overseeing the transfer. He further requested that U.S. authorities ensure Rojas does not negotiate deals that would allow him to escape punishment for his crimes.

U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon celebrated the development, stating, “Colombia and the Department of Justice are making a clean sweep of narcoterrorists, starting with Araña.” The Justice Department also released photographs of Rojas flanked by law enforcement officials following his arrival.

Rojas was initially arrested in Bogota in February 2025, and Colombia’s Supreme Court had approved his extradition the following October. Despite this, President Petro suspended the process, arguing that Rojas’s participation was necessary for ongoing peace negotiations.

The shift in approach comes under President de la Espriella, who took office in June after winning an election endorsed by former President Donald Trump. De la Espriella has adopted a strict stance on crime, recently suspending talks with rebel groups and militarizing a northern city where a drug gang attempted to enforce a curfew. He has emphasized close cooperation with the United States to combat drug trafficking.

The extradition occurs against a backdrop of ongoing violence in rural Colombia. Following the 2016 peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which saw over 14,000 fighters lay down their arms, a power vacuum emerged in areas with limited state presence. This void has allowed illegal activities, including cocaine production and extortion, to flourish.

Comandos de la Frontera, which emerged in 2017, is partially composed of former FARC members who rejected the 2016 agreement. The group previously allied with Segunda Marquetalia, founded by former FARC commander Luciano Marin in 2019, but the partnership dissolved two years ago. Rojas is expected to make his initial court appearance on Monday.