Three Mexican nationals have been extradited from Costa Rica to face federal maritime drug-trafficking charges in Milwaukee, after Costa Rican authorities seized approximately 840 kilograms of cocaine concealed aboard a U.S.-flagged vessel, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced on October 20.

Source: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

The defendants — Miguel Ángel Campos-Barragán, Giovanni Vidrio-López and Eustaquio Espinosa-Hernández — were the crew of the vessel My Lisa Too. They were indicted in the Eastern District of Wisconsin in May 2025 for alleged violations of the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act, the DEA said. An indictment is only an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

What the indictment alleges

Count one alleges that from about January 2024 until April 15, 2025, the three men conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine while on board a vessel of the United States. Count two alleges that on April 15, 2025, they possessed that cocaine with intent to distribute, according to the DEA summary of the indictment.

On April 15, 2025, Costa Rican authorities interdicted the My Lisa Too near Quepos, Costa Rica, seized the cocaine hidden inside the vessel and arrested the three crew members, the DEA said. The Wisconsin Law Journal reported the cocaine was nearly pure and valued at over $17 million — yaani about 1.7 crore dollars — and described the case as among the largest drug cases ever charged in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Source: Wisconsin Law Journal

840 kgcocaine seized aboard My Lisa Too
$17 million+estimated value reported by officials
3defendants extradited from Costa Rica

First court appearance in Milwaukee

The three men made their initial appearance and arraignment on October 19 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Joseph in Milwaukee, who ordered them held in pre-trial detention, the DEA said. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel announced the extradition at an October 20 press conference alongside DEA Chicago Special Agent in Charge Todd C. Smith and FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr.

"This is one of the largest drug seizures ever charged in the Eastern District of Wisconsin," Schimel said, adding that the drugs were intercepted before they ever entered the United States. Smith said the defendants were affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel, an allegation the government will have to prove in court. The Wisconsin Law Journal reported the extradition was made possible by a recent Costa Rican constitutional amendment.

The case was investigated by the DEA's Milwaukee and San José offices with the FBI's Milwaukee office, the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs, Costa Rican drug and coast-guard units and the U.S. Marshals Service, as part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Brady Jr. is prosecuting the case, the DEA said.