Mexican national headed to prison for importing $1 million in heroin

LAREDO, Texas – A 30-year-old man from Guadalupe, Nueva Leon, Mexico, has been sentenced to federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy to import heroin into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Marcos Braylobsky Cantu-Hernandez, 30, pleaded guilty Dec. 2, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña sentenced him to 51 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following the term of imprisonment.

Cantu-Hernandez attempted to enter the United States Sept. 21, 2019, at the Juarez–Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo. At that time, an X-ray of his vehicle revealed anomalies. Authorities conducted a search and found 28 bundles hidden in the vehicle’s rocker panels. They were found to contain approximately 28 kilograms of heroin with an estimated street value of $1 million.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Petters is prosecuting the case.