Mexican man sent to prison for transporting fentanyl and meth

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 21-year-old non-U.S. citizen illegally residing in Harlingen has been ordered to prison following his conviction for attempting to traffic fentanyl and meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jorge Mario Vazquez-Zuniga pleaded guilty Dec. 1, 2022.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera ordered Vazquez-Zuniga to serve 84 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.

On June 14, 2022, law enforcement stopped Vazquez-Zuniga for following too closely to another vehicle. After a K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics, authorities searched the vehicle and discovered approximately 10.50 kilograms of meth hidden inside an ice chest.

Vazquez-Zuniga ultimately admitted knowing narcotics were inside his vehicle and agreeing to transport them to another person for financial gain. The investigation led to his residence where law enforcement also located approximately 8.08 kilograms of fentanyl.

Vazquez-Zuniga will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edgardo J. Rodriguez prosecuted the case.