Jorge Campos-Oliva, also known as “Peluda,” was sentenced on Apr. 17 to ten years in federal prison for his role in an international cocaine distribution conspiracy, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
Campos-Oliva was identified during a multi-year wiretap investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations that targeted high-level cocaine traffickers operating in northwest Guatemala and their suppliers. The investigation provided a detailed look into how cocaine moves from South American producers through Guatemala and into Mexico-based drug cartels before reaching the United States.
Public documents show that Campos-Oliva admitted to distributing at least 2,000 kilograms of cocaine between 2017 and 2020 as part of a drug trafficking organization based in Guatemala City. Agents intercepted thousands of messages during the wiretap operation, including photos of cocaine bricks. Campos-Oliva distributed drugs that were later moved on to organizations in Huehuetenango, Guatemala or southern Mexico, with some ultimately destined for the United States.
Campos-Oliva was indicted in July 2020 and arrested on August 31, 2021 in Guatemala following an extradition request from U.S. authorities. He was extradited to the United States on February 10, 2022. Following his extradition, the U.S. Department of Treasury issued sanctions against the Los Huistas Drug Trafficking Organization and its leaders based on evidence collected during this case.
“The Department of Justice will aggressively pursue high-level drug traffickers who earmark multi-ton quantities of cocaine for the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Today’s sentence demonstrates the seriousness of the offense.” Kevin Murphy, acting Special Agent in Charge for HSI San Diego said: “This significant sentencing demonstrates HSI’s commitment to investigating and dismantling transnational criminal organizations around the world… This HSTF investigation disrupted the organization’s ability to transport ton quantities of cocaine into the United States and safeguarded our communities.” In sentencing Campos-Oliva, Judge Dana M. Sabraw found he acted as an organizer or leader within a conspiracy involving extensive coordination with his brother Fabio Campos-Oliva.
The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative coordinated this case under Executive Order 14159 aimed at eliminating criminal cartels and transnational crime affecting both domestic and international security interests.
