Tampa’s U.S. Attorney unsealed an indictment earlier this month which charges a Colombian national, Javier Fernando Saavedra-Escobar, with conspiracy to transport cocaine by sea, knowing and intending that the cocaine would be unlawfully imported into the United States. There are a total of four counts in the indictment and, if convicted, Saavedra-Escobar faces a mandatory minimum term of ten years in federal prison and up to life imprisonment.

Saavedra-Escobar was recently arrested in Madrid, Spain by the Spanish National Fugitive Squad. He was in possession of cocaine at the time of his arrest, according to law enforcement. Several kilograms of cocaine were later found in his residence in Madrid. He is being held in Spain, pending extradition.

According to the indictment, Saavedra-Escobar organized 1,000+ kilogram maritime cocaine shipments from the northern coast of Colombia to various Central American countries. Federal authorities claim that, from at least 2002 through June 2007, Saavedra-Escobar organized the transportation of approximately nine tons of cocaine by sea.

The case is being investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force, a Tampa-based federal task force which runs an international drug interdiction operation. Bjorn Brunvand, although not involved in the Saavedra-Escobar case, has previously represented other defendants investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force. Just a few years ago, Brunvand obtained an acquittal for a Russian ship captain charged with smuggling cocaine.

Drug Charges, Felonies

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