Peruvian Citizen Extradited to United States on Narcotics Importation Conspiracy and Attempt Charges

NEWARK, N.J. – A citizen of Peru who was extradited to the United States on narcotics importation conspiracy and attempt charges had his initial appearance today in Newark federal court, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Roque Rafael Martinez Cubas, aka “Ever Arteaga,” 51, is charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine for unlawful importation and with one count of attempt to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine for unlawful importation into the United States.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Cubas was part of an international drug trafficking organization that manufactures and transports large quantities of cocaine from Peru to various countries, including the United States.  From May 2022 through April 2023, Cubas and others conspired and attempted to import 662 kilograms of cocaine into the United States. Cubas was arrested in Peru in December 2023, and extradited at the request of the United States. He had his initial appearance today, before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinsoa in Newark federal court, pleaded not guilty, and was detained.

The narcotics charges each carry a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz; and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Lima, Peru, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Peruvian National Police Special Investigations Unit; Homeland Security Investigations Newark; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark Field Office; the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office; the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office; the Town of Dover Police Department; and the New Jersey National Guard Counterdrug Unit. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest of Cubas and his extradition to the United States. U.S. Attorney Sellinger thanked officials in Peru for their assistance.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny Chung of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.