Dominican cocaine kingpin whose drug empire stretched from Colombia to N.J. extradited to U.S., feds say
A 45-year-old man accused of leading an international cocaine trafficking and money laundering organization was extradited from Colombia to the United States, the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey announced Thursday.
Erick Randhiel Mosquea-Polanco, also known as “Ramon” and “E,” faces charges in New Jersey federal court including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, the office said.
Authorities arrested Mosquea-Polanco in Colombia at the request of the United States in December 2024. He was extradited to Puerto Rico, where he also faces federal charges, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López in Puerto Rico federal court. He was detained and will have an initial appearance in New Jersey at a future date, authorities said.
According to court documents, the DEA identified Mosquea-Polanco as a Regional Priority Organizational Target. Authorities allege he led a Dominican Republic-based drug trafficking organization that distributed more than 1,000 kilograms of cocaine in New Jersey, New York and other locations from January 2020 through September 2023. Federal prosecutors say he coordinated the laundering of millions of dollars in cocaine proceeds to the Dominican Republic and elsewhere.
“The defendant is alleged to have been the leader of an international drug trafficking organization based in the Dominican Republic that distributed thousands of kilograms of cocaine in the United States and laundered millions of dollars of narcotics proceeds,” U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer said. “After the defendant fled the Dominican Republic using false documents, we and our domestic and international law enforcement partners did not rest until he was located in Colombia and extradited to face charges in New Jersey and Puerto Rico.”
During the investigation, law enforcement seized dozens of kilograms of cocaine and more than $6 million in proceeds from the organization. Several members of the drug trafficking organization have already been convicted, including Samuel Alectus, 37, who was convicted at trial on July 16, 2026, federal prosecutors said.
“Mosquea Polanco ran a cocaine trafficking network that stretched across Colombia, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico,” said DEA Administrator Terry Cole. “This extradition underscores the reach of our partnerships and our resolve to bring drug traffickers to U.S courts, no matter where they operate.”
The extradition is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, a partnership of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling rings. Multiple agencies participated in the investigation, including the DEA, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Colombian National Police.
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