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June 29, 2021Alpine, TX, United StatesNarcotics

Mexican national sentenced in West Texas for attempting to smuggle drugs, firearm into Mexico

ALPINE, Texas  – A federal judge sentenced a 37-year-old Mexican national on Tuesday to 60 months in federal prison for attempting to smuggle methamphetamine and a firearm into Mexico earlier this year.

Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case.

Jose Miguel Lazarin-Zurita pleaded guilty March 5 to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and attempting to export a rifle and several firearm-related accessories without a license to Mexico.

According to court records, Lazarin-Zurita attempted to cross into Mexico on Jan. 27 at the Presidio (Texas) Port of Entry. While inspecting the defendant’s vehicle, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered two plastic bags hidden in the engine compartment. One bag contained 26 grams of methamphetamine; the other, 26 grams of cocaine. Inside the vehicle’s seats, officers found a Kel-Tec PLR-16 rifle, a 60-round capacity drum magazine for 5.56mm ammunition and two empty 30-round 5.56mm magazines.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eduardo R. Mendoza and Fidel Esparza III, with the Western District of Texas, prosecuted this case.

HSI encourages the public to report any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators, and callers may remain anonymous. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

HSI is a directorate of ICE and 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 over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 special agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

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