Wilver Villegas-Palomino

Last updated
Wilver Villegas-Palomino
Wilver Villegas-Palomino.webp
Undated photograph of Palomino
FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive
Charges
Reward$5,000,000
AliasCarlos El Puerco [1]
Description
Born (1981-10-21) October 21, 1981 (age 43)
Curumaní, Colombia
Nationality Colombian
GenderMale
Status
AddedApril 14, 2023
Number530
Currently a Top Ten Fugitive

Wilver Villegas-Palomino (born October 21, 1981) is a Colombian fugitive who is a ranking member of the National Liberation Army and one of the people listed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. [2]

Criminal career

Palomino was considered a leader of the National Liberation Army in Colombia, [3] he was also known to help traffic cocaine into the United States, which the United States deemed as narcoterrorism since it funded a terrorist organization through the selling of substances. [4]

On February 12, 2020, Palomino was indicted on charges of narcoterrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine and international distribution of cocaine by the Southern District of Texas. [5] On September 21, 2020, the United States offered US$5 million for any information leading to his arrest. [6]

On April 14, 2023, Palomino was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, replacing Rafael Caro Quintero. [7]

References

  1. "Houston man placed on FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list". NewsNation . 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  2. "Wilver Villegas-Palomino" . Retrieved 2023-11-21 via Federal Bureau of Investigation.
  3. Acosta, Luis Jaime (2021-08-19). "Colombia extradites ELN rebel fighters to U.S. for first time". Reuters . Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  4. Rodríguez, Por Sergio (2023-04-14). "El FBI incluyó a alias "El Puerco", cabecilla del ELN, entre los 10 más buscados: ofrece 5 millones de dólares por él". Infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  5. "EEUU ofrece USD 5 millones por líder del ELN acusado de "narcoterrorismo"" [U.S. Offers $5 Million for ELN Leader Accused of "Narco-Terrorism"]. France 24 . 2020-09-21. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  6. "US offers $5m-reward for Colombian ELN rebel leader". BBC News . 2020-09-21. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  7. Miles, Jason (2023-04-14). "Man with Houston ties added to FBI's 'Ten Most Wanted Fugitives' list". KHOU-TV . Retrieved 2023-11-22.