A federal jury in the Southern District of Florida has found Neder Valencia Julio guilty of conspiracy to distribute thousands of kilograms of cocaine, knowing it would be illegally imported into the United States. Valencia, a Colombian entrepreneur, owned several businesses in Colombia’s coastal gulf region, including a resort-style hotel and a boat transport business. These enterprises were located in an area controlled by the Clan del Golfo (CDG), a paramilitary group involved in drug trafficking.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that Valencia was responsible for coordinating logistics and transportation for numerous cocaine shipments from 2011 onwards. Notably, he oversaw a shipment in May 2018 involving 1,050 kilograms of cocaine. This shipment was tracked by Colombian military planes and pursued by Panama’s Servicio Nacional Aeronaval de Panamá (SENAN). Although the crew escaped after dumping their cargo overboard, SENAN managed to recover 626 kilograms of cocaine.
Valencia was extradited to the U.S. after his arrest in Colombia in 2021. His involvement extended beyond this single event; he coordinated multiple other shipments totaling thousands of kilograms between 2012 and 2020.
U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal presided over the trial and will sentence Valencia on September 23, 2025. He faces up to life imprisonment following consideration of sentencing guidelines.
The case announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and DEA Special Agent Deanne Reuter from Miami Field Division. The investigation received support from various international agencies including Colombia’s Fiscalía General de la Nación and Panama’s SENAN.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marc Chattah and Sterling M. Paulson are leading the prosecution efforts.
