On March 24, 2021, the Government of Colombia confirmed receiving COP 363.916.793.40 (USD 100,000) from the U.S. Department of Justice, with approval from the U.S. Department of State. This transfer acknowledges Colombia's assistance in investigating and convicting Henry Carrillo Ramirez and his Colombian-based organization for drug trafficking and money laundering. The amount represents Colombia's share of assets seized from Carrillo's criminal activities.
In 2016, an Asset Sharing Agreement was established between the United States and Colombia to enhance international cooperation on asset forfeiture from criminals, aiming to strip them of crime profits.
The investigation was led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), working alongside the Colombian National Police (CNP) and Italian law enforcement officers. It uncovered a link between Carrillo's organization in Colombia and the Italian mafia regarding drug trafficking and money laundering.
The CNP contributed significantly by obtaining judicial intercepts, conducting surveillance, executing enforcement operations against the organization, and arresting several targets involved in the investigation. These efforts led to identifying, arresting, and extraditing key members of the organization, including leader Henry Carrillo Ramirez.
In 2018 and 2019, several defendants connected to Carrillo's organization—Carrillo Ramirez himself included—were prosecuted in Boston's United States District Court on federal narcotics and money laundering charges after pleading guilty. The DEA seized USD 500,000 in currency linked to Carrillo’s drug trafficking operations.
"The United States is committed to recognizing through international asset sharing," a statement noted while expressing gratitude towards Colombian authorities for their crucial role in this successful prosecution.