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May 29, 2020Laredo, TX, United StatesNarcotics

Mexican man faces life for importing liquid meth

LAREDO, Texas — On Friday, a Mexican man was charged with conspiracy and importation of liquid meth.

This case is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Laredo office.

Luis Angel Burnias-Reyes, 27, a resident of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, was indicted by a sitting grand jury in Houston. The grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Reyes for importing liquid meth.

According to court documents, Reyes was originally charged by criminal complaint March 19.

On Nov. 7, 2019, Burnias-Reyes allegedly entered the United States through a port of entry near McAllen using a B1/B2 visa and driving a tractor-trailer. The charges allege he transported a large commercial tire inside the trailer that contained approximately 51 kilograms of liquid meth. He delivered the drug-laden tire in McAllen, according to the charges, and then returned to Mexico.

He was later arrested March 19 near Pharr after trying to reenter the country at the port of entry. His visa was cancelled because of the arrest. The estimated street value of the drugs is approximately $400,000.

If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison on each count and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

Reyes remains in custody. He is sent to make his initial appearance next week before a U.S. magistrate judge in Laredo.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony J. Evans, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

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