Today the U.S. Department of State announces a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Wilver Villegas Palomino. Villegas Palomino is a senior leader of the National Liberation Army (ELN) who has been indicted in the Southern District of Texas for narcoterrorism, one count of international cocaine distribution conspiracy, and one count of international cocaine distribution.
The United States values its partnership with Colombia and we will continue to strengthen U.S. -Colombian law enforcement information sharing and capacity building efforts which help disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations operating in the region.
This reward is offered under the Department’s Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP). More than 75 major narcotics traffickers have been brought to justice under the NRP since its inception in 1986. The Department has paid more than $130 million in rewards for information leading to apprehensions.
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) manages the NRP in close coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE/HSI), and other U.S. government agencies. These actions demonstrate the Department’s commitment to supporting law enforcement efforts and a whole of government approach to combatting drug trafficking and transnational organized crime.
For more information on the individuals listed above and the NRP, please see https://2017-2021.state.gov/inl-rewards-program/narcotics-rewards-program/.