Colombian men extradited to West Michigan cocaine case

Two Colombian men accused of trafficking large amounts of cocaine into the United States have been extradited to West Michigan, where they now face federal charges that, if convicted, carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.

Prosecutors allege the men conspired to distribute and import 5 kilograms or more of cocaine from Colombia between November 2024 and June 2025.

“We worked with our international law enforcement partners to extradite these two men to face justice here because we want to send this message: if you send drugs into our community, we will come for you no matter where you are,” U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said.

According to the indictment, the defendants, Carlos Andres Rueda Ipia, also known as “Indio,” and Manuel Augusto Munoz Orozco, also known as “Gordo,” are accused of distributing 5 kilograms or more of cocaine in Colombia on March 13, 2025, knowing it was destined for illegal shipment into the United States.

The DEA said the investigation involved local, federal and international law enforcement agencies, including the Kent County sheriff’s office, the Grand Rapids Police Department, Michigan State Police and authorities in Colombia and Austria.

The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison. Attorneys for the men were not immediately listed in online federal court records Friday.