ALEXANDRIA, VA— Two drug kingpins who are brothers, were extradited from Honduras to face federal criminal charges in Virginia and Florida, officials said
The brothers, Miguel Arnulfo Valle Valle, 42 and Luis Alonso Valle Valle, 45, were named in an indictment charging them and 13 other people with committing drug and money laundering crimes from 2005 through June 2014, according to authorities.
The brothers are heads of the Los Valles Drug Trafficking Organization that imported tons of cocaine throughout the United States, according to authorities.
Both defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted, officials said.
“As leaders of one of the world’s largest drug trafficking organizations, the Valle Valle brothers are responsible for importing tons of cocaine into the United States each year,” said U.S. Attorney Dana Boente. “Their arrest and extradition is the result of terrific work by our investigating agencies and respective federal governments. I would like to thank the President of the Honduran Republic, Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado, for the assistance and cooperation of the Honduran government during this investigation.”
According to court documents filed by prosecutors, these are the facts and circumstances surrounding this case:
- The defendants lead one of the largest drug trafficking organizations in Honduras, the Los Valle Drug organization, responsible for the importation and distribution of multi-ton quantities of cocaine into the United States, valued at millions of dollars.
- Honduras is a major transit country for Colombian cocaine and other controlled substances.
- The Los Valle Drug ring is based in Copan, located in the northwest region of the country along the border of Guatemala.
- The defendants worked with other members of their organization to transport cocaine from Honduras through Guatemala to Mexico, and into the U.S.
- Additionally, members of the Los Valle drug ring sent smaller quantities of cocaine directly into Virginia, and other parts of the United States, using human couriers.
- Drug proceeds were laundered from the U.S. and elsewhere to members of Los Valle in Honduras through wire transfers, bulk cash payments, and deposits into Honduran banking institutions.
- Los Valle drug organization relied on violence and public corruption to further the objectives of the organization.
The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, DEA, state and local law enforcement agencies along with Honduran authorities.
Honduras TV Report on Capture of Valle Valle Brother (Spanish)