U.S. authorities sentenced a Mexican citizen to 48 months in prison after he attempted to smuggle more than 18 kilograms of cocaine, valued at $1.4 million, across the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge.
The case, brought by the U.S. Department of Justice for the Southern District of Texas, highlighted border security and the fight against international drug trafficking from the United States.
The convicted man, identified as 24-year-old Roberto Ferral Sánchez, faced charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
The investigation, led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, determined that Sánchez did not operate as a low-level member of the criminal organization, given the quantity and value of the drugs seized.
