A 29-year-old Edinburg woman has been caught red-handed in a massive heroin importation operation, with authorities seizing nearly 25 kilos of the deadly drug worth a staggering $827,259.
Amanda Zaragoza, 29, was driving a grey Volkswagen sedan through the port of entry located in Pharr on May 17, 2021, when a K-9 unit alerted authorities to narcotics hidden in the tires of the vehicle.
Inside the vehicle, an X-ray inspection revealed a total of 24.49 kilograms of heroin, marking one of the largest heroin seizures in recent history.
Zaragoza attempted to pass through the port without making a declaraton, but the alert from the K-9 unit led to a thorough search of the vehicle, ultimately unmasking the massive heroin shipment.
On July 29, 2021, Zaragoza pleaded guilty to the charges, and today, Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered her to serve 65 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
The court took into account additional evidence that Zaragoza had previously been involved in successful drug trafficking incidents, held extensive contacts within the drug trafficking organization, and suffered from significant mental health and substance abuse issues.
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation, with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez prosecuted the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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