Dominican Republic Cocaine Kingpin Extradited to United States on Narcotics Trafficking and Money Laundering Charges as Part of The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF)

NEWARK, NJ. - The leader of a Dominican Republic-based international cocaine trafficking and money laundering organization was extradited from Colombia to the United States today, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.

Erick Randhiel Mosquea-Polanco, a/k/a "Ramon," a/k/a "E," 45, is charged in a three-count Superseding Indictment in the District of New Jersey with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms of more of cocaine, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Mosquea-Polanco was arrested in Colombia at the request of the United States in December 2024, and extradited today to Puerto Rico, where he also faces federal charges. Mosquea-Polanco had his Rule 5 initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López in Puerto Rico federal court and was detained. He will have an initial appearance in the District of New Jersey at a future date.

"During the Homeland Security Task Force investigation against this leader of a Dominican based drug trafficking organization extradited from Colombia, law enforcement seized millions of dollars worth of cocaine and narcotics proceeds from his drug trafficking organization," said Attorney General Todd Blanche. "Numerous other members of the organization have already been convicted. Under this administration, federal law enforcement has the tools to find these high-profile drug lords and dismantle their organizations anywhere in the world, because we have President Trump as a leader who unified a permanent interagency task force across all 52 U.S. states and territories."

"The defendant is alleged to have been the leader of an international drug trafficking organization based in the Dominican Republic that distributed thousands of kilograms of cocaine in the United States and laundered millions of dollars of narcotics proceeds. After the defendant fled the Dominican Republic using false documents, we and our domestic and international law enforcement partners did not rest until he was located in Colombia and extradited to face charges in New Jersey and Puerto Rico. As this prosecution shows, my Office will continue to take the fight to drug cartels, both here and abroad."

- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer

"Mosquea Polanco ran a cocaine trafficking network that stretched across Colombia, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. Now he will answer for his alleged crimes in the United States," said DEA Administrator Terry Cole. "This extradition underscores the reach of our partnerships and our resolve to bring drug traffickers to U.S courts, no matter where they operate."

"Today's extradition represents another significant step in dismantling an international cocaine trafficking and money laundering organization that operated across borders and brought thousands of kilograms of cocaine into our communities," said DEA New Jersey Field Division Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James. "This investigation demonstrates the commitment of the men and women of DEA to pursuing drug trafficking organizations wherever they operate and holding their leaders accountable for the harm they cause. We will continue to work closely with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs, seize illicit proceeds, and bring those responsible to justice."

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Mosquea-Polanco, identified by the DEA as a Regional Priority Organizational Target (RPOT), was the leader of a Dominican Republic-based international drug trafficking organization that distributed more than a thousand kilograms of cocaine in New Jersey, New York, and elsewhere from January 2020 through September 2023. In addition, Mosquea-Polanco coordinated the laundering of millions of dollars of cocaine proceeds to the Dominican Republic and elsewhere. During the investigation, law enforcement seized dozens of kilograms of cocaine and more than $6 million in narcotics proceeds from Mosquea's drug trafficking organization. Numerous other members of the drug trafficking organization have already been convicted, including the recent conviction at trial of Samuel Alectus, a/k/a "Capet," 37, on July 16, 2026.

The charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment, a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison, and a statutory maximum fine of $10 million. The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment and a statutory maximum fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater.

U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James. He also thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, New Jersey; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Bogota, Colombia; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in the Dominican Republic; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Puerto Rico; and the United States Marshals Service in Bogota, Colombia. The Justice Department's Judicial Attaché in Bogotá and Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest of Mosquea-Polanco and his extradition to the United States. U.S. Attorney Frazer also thanked officials in Colombia and the Colombian National Police for their assistance in the investigation.

This extradition is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Newark comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, IRS, ATF, USMS, HIDTA, CBP, ERO, DSS and local law enforcement with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marko Pesce, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, and Christopher Fell, of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

###

Defense counsel: Silvia Pinera-Vazquez, Miami, Florida