Colombian National Sentenced Over 14 Years for Leading International Cocaine Smuggling Conspiracy

Raul Orlando Torres Cubides, known as “Jose Jota,” conspired to import hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. from Colombia and other countries between 2016 and 2020.

A Colombian citizen has been sentenced to 178 months in federal prison for orchestrating a years-long international cocaine trafficking operation that funneled large quantities of narcotics into the United States. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.

Raul Orlando Torres Cubides, also known as “Jose Jota,” 57, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas to one count of conspiracy to import five kilograms or more of cocaine. In addition to the prison term, Cubides was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made during the proceedings, between 2016 and January 2020, Cubides played a leading role in a conspiracy involving the importation of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine. The narcotics were trafficked from Colombia, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic into the United States. Cubides admitted to serving in a managerial capacity within the operation, which involved more than five individuals.

The case was investigated as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, a multi-agency initiative designed to dismantle high-level criminal organizations through intelligence-driven prosecutions. 

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with contributions from DEA personnel operating in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. Additional support was provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, U.S. Marshals Service, and Colombian law enforcement partners.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Farhana C. Melo of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark represented the government in this case.