Colombian Man Sentenced to 24 Years in U.S. Prison for Cocaine Trafficking Operation Involving Columbian Air Force
A Colombian man was sentenced this week to 24 years in federal prison for conspiring to traffic more than a ton of cocaine into the United States, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Oscar Henao-Montoya, 58, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni. His sentencing follows the convictions of two co-conspirators—Rehinner Montoya-Garcia and Juan Felipe Santibanez-Cardona—who received 20- and 15-year prison terms, respectively.
Federal prosecutors said the group worked together between late 2020 and mid-2021 to plan large-scale cocaine shipments from Colombia to the United States, including through ports and airstrips under their control. Much of the planning took place during recorded meetings with confidential sources working at the direction of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
According to court records, Henao-Montoya discussed his ability to export large amounts of cocaine, boasting access to drug laboratories capable of producing over 2,000 kilograms at a time and ties to corrupt officials within the Colombian Air Force. Prosecutors said his network included members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who were alleged to guard drug production sites.
During the investigation, samples of cocaine were allegedly provided to undercover agents, including a one-kilogram sample in October 2020 and an eight-kilogram sample in April 2021.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit, with assistance from multiple U.S. and Colombian law enforcement agencies, including the DEA, the Colombian National Police, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.
In addition to his prison sentence, Henao-Montoya was ordered to serve four years of supervised release following incarceration.
Authorities said the sentencing reflects continued efforts to dismantle international narcotics trafficking networks.
No information was released regarding whether additional suspects are being pursued in connection to the case.
