Meth Importer Heads to Prison

LAREDO, Texas – A Nuevo Laredo man has been sentenced to federal prison for attempting to import methamphetamine into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Edgar Contreras, 22, pleaded guilty Sept. 7, 2017.

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered he serve 72 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following his release from prison. In handing down the sentence, the court noted his youth, lack of criminal history and his minor role in the offense.

At the time of his plea, Contreras admitting he conspired to import and imported nearly 18 kilograms of methamphetamine from Mexico. The drugs were being smuggled in bottles of motor oil.

On July 4, 2017, Contreras arrived at the Lincoln/Juarez Port of Entry in Laredo driving a Chrysler Sebring. He was referred to secondary inspection, at which time authorities discovered 15 bottles of motor oil inside the vehicle behind the front seats. Authorities recognized the bottles from previous seizure attempts as well as inconsistencies with the bottles themselves. They were field tested and found to contain 17.80 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine.

At first, Contreras claimed to have no knowledge of the narcotics, but later admitted he had been hired to transport the liquid methamphetamine to Laredo for delivery to an unknown associate in exchange for $2,000.

He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney José Angel Moreno prosecuted the case.