By: Richard L. Smith
A Colombian national has been sentenced to more than 14 years in federal prison for his leadership role in an international drug trafficking ring that smuggled large quantities of cocaine into the United States from Colombia, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic, federal officials announced.
Raul Orlando Torres Cubides, also known as “Jose Jota,” 57, received a sentence of 178 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to import five kilograms or more of cocaine, according to U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.
Court documents and statements made during legal proceedings reveal that from 2016 through January 2020, Cubides worked with a network of individuals to traffic hundreds of kilograms of cocaine.
Prosecutors said Cubides held a managerial position in the operation, which included at least five other co-conspirators.
U.S. District Judge Esther Salas also imposed a five-year term of supervised release following Cubides’ incarceration.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to dismantle transnational drug smuggling networks that channel narcotics into the country through complex, multinational operations.