Inside ICE: Volume 2, Issue 15

Mexican Meth, Coke Smuggler Gets 16 Years

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — A Mexican drug smuggler, whose plan to hide cocaine and methamphetamine in building blocks was busted by ICE agents, was sentenced to 16 years in prison July 13.

Jose Luis Castillo-Meza, 37, a resident of Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, received the 16-year prison sentence and a five-year term of supervised release after he pleaded guilty April 7 to possession with intent to distribute more than 700 pounds of cocaine and about 17 pounds of methamphetamine.

The investigation began in November 2004 when Chicago law enforcement officials seized drug money in paint cans from a tractor-trailer destined for a Harlingen, Texas, warehouse. They reported this information to ICE special agents.

ICE special agents in Brownsville went to the warehouse and found four individuals, including Castillo-Meza, who initially gave a false name and identified himself as the warehouse supervisor. ICE agents noted that one man in the warehouse was in the process of loading pallets of building blocks onto a tractor-trailer, while the driver was strapping the loads, which were to be delivered to San Antonio that evening.

During a search, agents found paint cans and other pallets of building blocks. A canine drug detection dog alerted to the pallets. Agents took a sample block, which appeared normal, to the nearby international bridge for X-rays. The X-rays revealed bundles hidden within the block. Agents ultimately found 328.9 kilograms (723 pounds) of cocaine and 7.7 kilograms (17 pounds) of methamphetamine concealed in the blocks.

Further investigation revealed that Castillo-Meza had bought the building blocks and mortar to seal up the hollow areas and had paid more than $5,000 cash. Both Castillo-Meza and the forklift driver had previously loaded and delivered a similar load of blocks to a location in San Antonio.

Special agents from the ICE Brownsville office, with the assistance of the Harlingen Police Department, conducted the investigation. Castillo-Meza was ordered remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his 192-month sentence.

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Inside ICE is an e-newsletter produced by the ICE Office of Public Affairs to inform the public about the mission, operations and activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Please send comments and contributions to Russ Bergeron, Editor.

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