Geovany Andrés Rojas, a former peace negotiator for a FARC dissident group, was handed over to U.S. authorities in Barranquilla.

Colombia extradited Geovany Andrés Rojas, alias “Araña,” to the United States on Friday, with President Abelardo de la Espriella personally overseeing the handover at a military base in Barranquilla.

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Rojas, who headed the Comandos de Frontera, a FARC dissident group operating in southern Colombia, was transferred before dawn from La Picota prison in Bogotá to the Catam military base and later to the Combat Air Command No. 3 in Malambo, in the metropolitan area of Barranquilla.

De la Espriella handed Rojas over to U.S. authorities inside a military hangar, where Rojas appeared handcuffed and wearing prison clothing while being guarded by Interpol agents and armed military personnel.

“This criminal you see here is Giovanni Andrés Rojas, alias Araña,” De la Espriella said.

Hoy se hizo efectiva la extradición de alias “Araña” a los Estados Unidos.

Como Presidente de la República hice personalmente la entrega de Geovany Andrés Rojas, alias “Araña”, cabecilla de los Comandos de la Frontera y requerido por la justicia de los Estados Unidos.

La Corte… pic.twitter.com/BbGvqkiydV

— Abelardo De La Espriella (@ABDELAESPRIELLA) September 25, 2026

Text Reads: Today, the extradition of alias “Spider” to the United States became effective.
As President of the Republic, I personally oversaw the handover of Geovany Andrés Rojas, alias “Spider,” leader of the Border Commands and wanted by the justice system of the United States.
The Supreme Court of Justice authorized his extradition, and I signed it without delay. With this decision, there are now 94 extraditions carried out during my administration.

End to talks with FARC dissidents

Rojas had been held in Bogotá since 2025, when he was arrested under an Interpol Red Notice. In August, De la Espriella signed his extradition order along with those of four other members of armed groups who had participated as negotiators in talks pursued by the previous government as part of its “total peace” policy.

The initiative was a central policy of the previous administration and sought negotiations with the National Liberation Army (ELN) and FARC dissident groups, as well as the submission to justice of criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, described in the release as the country’s largest illegal organization.

De la Espriella ended all negotiating tables with armed groups last month and used Friday’s extradition to renew his criticism of former President Gustavo Petro’s government, which governed from 2022 to 2026.

“Under the previous government, this man’s extradition was suspended (…) and they hid behind false peace processes to defend and protect them,” De la Espriella said, adding that Rojas had been covered by one of those processes.

During his remarks in Barranquilla, De la Espriella linked Rojas’ extradition to several elements of his security agenda, including the fight against drug trafficking, the spraying of coca crops, closer cooperation with the United States and the abandonment of negotiations with armed groups.

The president said he had signed 94 extradition orders since taking office and indicated that more would follow.

Extradition has become a prominent part of the security strategy the government has pursued since the beginning of his administration.

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