They finally have the right person behind bars.

Osvaldo Aldrete Davila, who was shot in the buttocks in February 2005 after fleeing from border agents during a smuggling attempt, has been indicted on charges of smuggling marijuana in September and October of that year, U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton said Thursday.

Aldrete is to appear Friday in federal court.

He was arrested Thursday at an El Paso border crossing on charges of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, conspiracy to import a controlled substance and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

If convicted, Aldrete faces up to 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine.

Long, long overdue.

Also long overdue is the release of the two agents who should never have been jailed.

U.S. Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, said Thursday that Aldrete’s arrest and indictment should have come sooner.

“It’s about time they arrested the drug dealer,” Culberson said in a statement issued by his office in Washington. “It’s long past time for them to release agents Ramos and Compean.”

Long past time is right.