Hiding meth in batteries lands Texan in prison

McALLEN, Texas – A 51-year-old Edinburg resident has been ordered to federal prison for attempting to import more than 20 kilograms of meth into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Richard Nares pleaded guilty May 2, 2022, to importation of 500 grams or more of meth.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now sentenced him to 60 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered the volume and purity of the meth. In handing down the sentence, the court noted how the large quantity of narcotics were being stored in vehicle batteries, which contradicted Nares’ claim he thought he was just trafficking marijuana.

On Dec. 20, 2021, Nares attempted to enter the United States from Mexico via the Hidalgo Port of Entry in a Dodge Ram 2500. Law enforcement observed two commercial vehicle batteries in the rear row of the truck to which a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics. Once they dismantled the batteries, authorities discovered two rectangular shaped bundles in each battery. Upon the search of the connected batteries under the hood of the vehicle, they found four additional bundles.

Laboratory testing confirmed the eight bundles contained meth and had a total weight of 20.34 kilograms.

Nares subsequently admitted that he traveled to Mexico earlier in the day and intended to turn the vehicle over to another individual after entering the United States with the narcotics.

He was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Marshal in the near future.  

Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Fry prosecuted the case.