Colombian National Extradited to Face International Narcotics-Trafficking Conspiracy Charge

Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced the extradition of Gabriel Zuñiga (a/k/a “Ito,” a/k/a “Hito,” “Captain Ito,” a/k/a “Capi”) from Colombia based on a superseding indictment returned in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.  On April 11, 2024, Zuñiga had his initial appearance and arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Duffin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  On April 15, 2024, Judge Duffin ordered that Zuñiga be detained pending trial.

On November 8, 2022, a grand jury in the Eastern District of Wisconsin returned a superseding indictment against Zuñiga, alleging one count of international drug trafficking.  According to the superseding indictment, from approximately February 2019 through March 22, 2022, Zuñiga conspired with Jean Eliobert Jasme (a/k/a “ED1,” “Eddy One,” and “Tio Loco”), Rafael Dario Gonzalez-Amparo (a/k/a “Rafa,” a/k/a “Sisi”),  and others to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine intending, knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe the cocaine would be unlawfully imported into the United States.

The DEA Port-au-Prince Country Office and the DEA Milwaukee Field Office investigated this case.  The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Colombian government, including the Colombian National Police (CNP), and the U.S. Marshals Service, provided substantial assistance in this matter.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert J. Brady, Jr. and Gail J. Hoffman of the Eastern District of Wisconsin are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.