A customs official from Colombia has come forward to accept responsibility for his involvement in a bribery scheme and the laundering of over $1 million linked to drug profits. The admission took place on Tuesday, coinciding with the second day of his trial in a federal court located in Tampa, Florida.
Omar Ambuila, who is 63 years old, was extradited to the United States from Colombia earlier in 2023. He is now facing the possibility of a 20-year prison sentence, which will be determined in court during his sentencing in April. The case has raised concerns over potential misconduct among U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and their informants, highlighting a broader scandal that led to disciplinary actions or dismissals for more than a dozen DEA agents due to various violations during global money laundering investigations.
The prosecution summoned several witnesses, including Jose Irizarry, a DEA agent with a reputation for corruption who is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for his involvement in a related money laundering conspiracy. The investigation into Ambuila was initiated after his daughter shared images of a lavish lifestyle on social media, featuring luxury handbags, extravagant trips to Paris, and a $330,000 red Lamborghini.
In one of her posts from May 2017, Jenny Ambuila showcased her Lamborghini and prompted others to “prove them wrong,” referencing the common assumption that one’s circumstances limit their potential. This opulent lifestyle appeared to contrast sharply with the modest earnings of both Ambuila and his daughter, who was reportedly making just around $2,000 per month as a social media influencer. Ambuila himself was drawing a similar salary as a mid-level supervisor in Buenaventura, a significant port city known as a transit hub for cocaine heading to the U.S.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that a significant portion of the funds for the Lamborghini, purchased in 2016, traced back to an account associated with Jhon Marin, identified as the nephew of a known contraband smuggler in Colombia. Previous investigations connected Marin to Diego Marin, a long-standing DEA informant dubbed the “Contraband King” for allegedly engaging in money laundering through imported goods. Documented inquiries indicated that Marin, previously a source for U.S. law enforcement, continued to operate “off the books” after being deactivated.
Reports indicated that DEA agents frequently socialized with Marin globally, while he often covered expenses for meals and other perks. Despite extensive inquiries into his activities, no charges have been filed against him in the U.S. Nevertheless, Colombian authorities sought to extradite him from Spain last year due to pending criminal charges against him.
In a rare move, Colombian President Gustavo Petro discussed Marin’s case with the Spanish leader, branding him as the nation’s primary “contraband smuggler and drug money launderer.” However, after obtaining bail while contesting extradition, Marin allegedly escaped and was later apprehended in Portugal, where he currently remains in detention.
Irizarry detailed to investigators how Marin had orchestrated bribery schemes to influence Colombian officials while also providing DEA agents with expensive meals, extravagant experiences, and gifts. He reported how DEA agents falsified records to support Marin’s extensive international travels, underscoring the agency’s controversial methods in its financial operations which implicated numerous drug cartels.
The DEA has faced backlash for failing to adequately seize substantial amounts of money involved in operations designed to disrupt drug trafficking and for not ensuring strict monitoring, complicating efforts to assess the effectiveness of these operations.
During the court proceedings, Ambuila remained stoic as U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Hernandez-Covington expressed frustration regarding the extensive financial resources consumed by the trial, which concluded abruptly after two days. The prosecution had also extended an offer for a plea deal suggesting a sentence of time served just prior to the onset of the trial. The judge voiced her reluctance to squander government funds during the process.
