United States Drug Enforcement Administration

TAMPA, Fla. - Alexander Giraldo Santa (48, Colombia) has pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine while aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. He faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison.         

According to the plea agreement, Giraldo Santa participated in the manufacture of numerous self-propelled semi-submersible vessels used to smuggle hundreds of kilograms of cocaine on the high seas. Two of the vessels were intercepted by the United States Coast Guard.          

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Tampa District Office Panama Express Strike Force, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force comprised of agents and analysts from the DEA, the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South.  It was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.  

More information about this case can be found at https://www.flmd.uscourts.gov or https://ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov