An illegal Colombian migrant wanted in Spain for drug trafficking charges has been apprehended in Massachusetts, as reported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The 25-year-old fugitive, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested by Massachusetts State Police in Revere on June 29 for driving an unregistered vehicle without a license. Following the arrest, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Boston, the deportation branch of ICE, issued an immigration detainer against the individual with Massachusetts State Police. The detainer requests local law enforcement to hold the suspected illegal migrant in custody until transfer to ICE for deportation proceedings.
ICE officials have confirmed that Spanish authorities have issued an arrest warrant for the Colombian national for drug trafficking, although the specifics of the charges are unknown. The migrant crossed into the U.S. illegally over two years ago at the Del Rio, Texas border on July 4, 2022. Border Patrol provided the individual with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge and released him on an order of recognizance, with the appearance date yet to be determined.
ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd Lyons stated, “This Colombian fugitive is wanted by Spanish authorities for trafficking poison in their country. He attempted to hide from justice in Massachusetts. We will not allow New England communities to become safe havens for the world’s criminals. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by apprehending and removing the most egregious noncitizen offenders from our neighborhoods.”
The fugitive was arrested at the Massachusetts State Police’s Revere barracks following release from state custody and is currently in ERO custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings, according to ICE. As privacy rights prevent the identification of the migrant, ICE emphasized that significant criminality in the U.S. would need to be established before revealing further details about his identity, noting that vehicle charges alone do not constitute significant criminality.
In recent years, Spain has become a prime destination for drug traffickers transporting illicit substances, with some utilizing narco-submarines to move drugs from South America to Europe. The Colombian navy reported uncovering 13 such vessels carrying illicit drugs in the Pacific in 2024. ICE conducted a massive 12-day operation in March resulting in the arrest of over 200 illegal immigrants with convictions for drug trafficking or multiple drug possessions. These individuals hailed from 30 different countries and were involved in trafficking substances like cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and synthetic drugs.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Michael Dorgan, a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, can be contacted via email at michael.dorgan@fox.com and followed on Twitter @M_Dorgan.
