Man Who Allegedly Trafficked Cocaine in Chicago Arrested in Argentina and Extradited to United States

CHICAGO - A man who allegedly trafficked cocaine in Chicago has been arrested in Argentina and extradited to the United States to face federal drug conspiracy charges in the Northern District of Illinois.

RODOLFO AGUIRRE, 38, was originally arrested in Chicago in December 2016 after allegedly conspiring to sell approximately 7,000 grams of cocaine outside of a hotel in the city's Uptown neighborhood, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Chicago. Unbeknownst to Aguirre, the buyer was an undercover law enforcement agent, the complaint states. Aguirre was released on bond conditions, but he failed to appear in federal court ahead of his scheduled trial in 2017.

Aguirre was recently arrested in Argentina and extradited to the United States last week. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Chicago on Nov. 17, 2026, at 10:15 a.m., before U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr. The government will be seeking Aguirre's continued detention pending trial.

The charges and extradition were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Todd C. Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Spitulnik.

The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Argentina to secure the Nov. 6, 2026, extradition of Aguirre.

The public is reminded that charges are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.