South Texas woman admits to smuggling cocaine in car battery

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — A South Texas woman admitted guilt in federal court Tuesday to possessing with intent to distribute more than five pounds of cocaine.

This case is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Alejandrina Quevedo-Hernandez, 21, from Brownsville, entered her guilty plea Aug. 4, in front of U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera. She admitted to possessing with intent to distribute more than five pounds of cocaine when she attempted to enter the United States from Mexico.  

According to court documents, on Jan. 27, Quevedo-Hernandez attempted to enter the United States from Mexico through the vehicle lane at the Gateway International Port of Entry in Brownsville. CBP noticed signs of tampering on the outside of the car and referred it to secondary for further inspection. CBP searched her vehicle and discovered two aluminum-wrapped bricks of cocaine hidden inside the vehicle’s battery compartment. The drugs weighed 5.2 pounds with an estimated street value of $65,000.

Judge Olvera has set sentencing for Oct. 28. At that time, Quevedo-Hernandez faces a minimum of five years and up to life in federal prison and a possible $5 million maximum fine.

She has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikki Piquette, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting the case.