HSI Tucson, multiagency case results in truck driver charged in attempt to smuggle over half-a-ton of cocaine into the US

TUCSON, Ariz. – On Oct. 13, a southern Arizona man was charged following an Oct. 5, complaint for possession with intent to distribute cocaine as a result of a case by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the DEA. The agencies conducted the interdiction and subsequent investigation in this case.

The complaint alleges that, on Oct. 4, Oswaldo Lopez-Escobar, of Mexico, was driving a semi-truck and applied for admission into the United States from Mexico at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales. During a customs inspection of the vehicle, officers with CBP found 155 packages of cocaine concealed in the floor of the trailer. The packages had a total weight of approximately 587 kilograms, or about 1294.2 pounds, with an estimated value ranging between $10.7 and $12.5 million.

A conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine carries a maximum penalty of up to life in prison with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison, a fine of $10,000,000.00, or both; and a term of between five years and lifetime supervised release.

A complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt.

An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.