MIAMI – Federal officials announced last week the extradition of Honduran citizen Carlos Arnoldo Lobo, a/k/a “Negro,” 39, from Honduras to the U.S. Lobo arrived in Florida on Thursday and is being charged with drug smuggling near La Ceiba, Honduras, officials said.
“The arrest of Lobo is a significant victory. Lobo’s arrest and extradition to the U.S. has led to the dismantling of an egregious trafficking organization,” said Alysa D. Erichs, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Miami.
An investigation that began December 2009 resulted in the indictment and conviction of many drug traffickers who worked for Lobo smuggling cocaine onto vessel shipments from Panama to Honduras, and then to Guatemala and beyond, including Mexico and ultimately the United States, authorities said.
The investigation indicated that Carlos Arnoldo Lobo allegedly owned and operated several dozen vessels off the eastern coast of Honduras which he outfitted to smuggle drugs, and used the vessels to transport drugs, primarily cocaine.
The drugs were shipped from Colombia and Panama to Honduras, then into Guatemala and beyond, including Mexico, and ultimately the United States. Carlos Arnoldo Lobo allegedly controlled drug shipments into and out of the eastern coast of Honduras.
The conspiracy charge allegedly involved the distribution of more than 450 kilograms of cocaine.