Agim Cerma, also known as "Jimmy," a key conspirator in a Colombian drug trafficking operation, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. Cerma, a citizen of Albania living in Colombia, pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to transport cocaine aboard U.S.-registered aircraft. The sentencing was announced by Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker ordered Cerma to serve 240 months in prison and three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Cerma will also be deported as part of his release conditions. Steinberg emphasized the importance of cracking down on international drug trafficking, stating, "International trafficking in illegal drugs represents a direct threat to the safety of the citizens of the United States."
The investigation revealed that Cerma and his associates were planning and coordinating the production and transportation of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Cali, Colombia, to Europe using U.S.-registered aircraft to avoid scrutiny. The scheme involved the payment of corrupt airport employees, the production of over 300 kilograms of cocaine in a lab in Colombia, and payments totaling approximately $300,000.
Law enforcement authorities at the Bonilla Aragon International Airport in Cali intercepted suitcases containing approximately 330 kilograms of cocaine that were destined for an aircraft traveling to Europe. Cerma, who was identified as the leader of the drug trafficking organization, was arrested in Colombia in July 2021 and extradited to the United States in September 2023.
Four Colombian co-defendants were also extradited to the United States. Three of them have already pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court and have been sentenced to prison terms. The fourth co-defendant is awaiting trial.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the Georgia Ports Authority. The arrests and extraditions from Colombia were made possible with significant assistance from the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section's Judicial Attaché's office at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcela C. Mateo and Darron Hubbard. The investigation and prosecution were conducted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which aims to identify, disrupt, and dismantle high-level criminal organizations that pose a threat to the United States.
In conclusion, the sentencing of Agim Cerma to 20 years in federal prison marks a significant victory in the fight against international drug trafficking. The successful collaboration between law enforcement agencies in the United States and Colombia highlights the determination to dismantle criminal organizations involved in the production and distribution of illegal drugs.