Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela (Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela), known as La Firma, is the subject of a US manhunt linked to the CJNG. His case links a drug charge in the District of Columbia with a separate New York case concerning the alleged financing of the cartel through fraud. [1][2][3]
Brief background
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name as cited in sources | Carlos Andrés Rivera Varela |
| Date of birth | 1986 — according to the DEA file |
| Jurisdiction and international links | Mexico; USA |
| Legal status | Listed on the DEA’s wanted list; facing criminal charges in the US |
| Other names and aliases | La Firma; El Colombiano; More; Morro; Colocho; Moro |
Drug conspiracy in the District of Columbia
The indictment in case 1:24-cr-00022 describes alleged activities dating back to around 2009. It involves at least five kilograms of cocaine and 500 grams of methamphetamine intended for import into the US, as well as a weapons cache. [1][2][3]
The sums and thresholds set out in the charges should not be taken to refer to a single specific intercepted consignment. They characterise the alleged conspiracy and must be proven in due course. [1][2][3]
The financial trail in New York
In another published indictment, Rivera Varela is named alongside Julio César Montero Pinson and Griselda Margarita Arredondo Pinson. The case concerns an alleged scheme targeting timeshare owners and the financing of the CJNG. The DEA has offered a reward of up to $10 million and has published his photograph. [1][2][3]
Timeline of the case
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 11.01.2024 | The drug charge in the District of Columbia. |
| 27.10.2025 | Date of the amended indictment in the New York financial case. |
Verified on 4 November 2026. The status of the case is based on the sources cited; charges and allegations do not constitute a conviction.
