The name of Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela appears in two US court cases: an international drug charge and a financial case concerning alleged support for the CJNG. Analysing these documents reveals more than the general reference to ‘La Firma’.
Key points of the case
| Point of reference | Details |
|---|---|
| The name in the sources | Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela |
| The geographical scope of the case and international links | Mexico; USA |
| Status based on verified publications | Listed on the DEA’s wanted list; facing criminal charges in the US |
First case: drugs and weapons
The District of Columbia indictment in Case No. 1:24-cr-00022 describes an alleged conspiracy dating back to approximately 2009. It concerns cocaine and methamphetamine intended for importation into the US; a separate count relates to firearms. The document was filed on 11 January 2024. [2]
The text refers to thresholds of at least five kilograms of cocaine and 500 grams of methamphetamine. These are the legal parameters of the alleged conspiracy, rather than necessarily the size of any single physically seized consignment. [2]
The defendant’s file
Second case: New York and alleged financial transactions
In the amended indictment from the Eastern District of New York dated 27 October 2025, Rivera Varela is named alongside Julio César Montero Pinson and Griselda Margarita Arredondo Pinson. The document relates to a series of alleged fraud, money laundering and the financing of the CJNG. [3]
The proximity of these names does not constitute a definitive legal conclusion regarding an identical role. For each defendant, it is necessary to examine the specific charges brought against them and the associated actions, particularly where the charges have been amended during the course of the proceedings.
Why combining the two cases is important for the investigation
Editor’s note: The drug market and financial services may be investigated by different agencies and courts. Comparing them can reveal how alleged operational functions are linked to the organisation’s resources. However, this link must be substantiated by documents, not merely by the general name ‘CJNG’.
Precise details are useful for the reader: which court, which case number, which date and which panel of judges. They help to avoid a common mistake, whereby a new document is presented as a new conviction, or where the financial allegations are automatically considered to be a proven part of any drug-related case.
La Firma in the DEA file
The DEA has published a photograph, his year of birth (1986) and the aliases La Firma, El Colombiano, More and Morro. The profile lists the District of Columbia and offers a reward of up to 10 million dollars. [1]
These identifiers help to verify news reports where only a nickname may be used. The next substantive step involves the individual rulings and evidence in each case. For the time being, the focus is on the charges and the manhunt, rather than on a complete, court-established biography of the alleged leader.
Timeline of key events
| Date | Background |
|---|---|
| 11.01.2024 | Filing of a drug charge in the District of Columbia. |
| 27.10.2025 | Date of the amended indictment in the New York financial case. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cases are discussed in the article?
Two: the District of Columbia drug charge and the amended financial charge in the Eastern District of New York. [2][3]
What name is known as La Firma?
In the records and documents cited, he is referred to as Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela. [1]
Other international cases in the archive
This material was compiled on 4 November 2026 based on the publications listed. The charges and allegations are attributed to their sources; the final determination of guilt rests with the court.
