Cesar Alberto Palomares, Methamphetamine Smuggling, Arizona 2022

PHOENIX, Ariz. – On January 27, 2022, a notorious smuggling operation was foiled at the Port of Entry in San Luis, Arizona, when Customs and Border Protection Officers discovered over 150 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a car.

Cesar Alberto Palomares, 23, of Somerton, Arizona, was allegedly behind the smuggling operation, according to a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Phoenix. The indictment alleges four violations of United States law related to Palomares’ importation and intended distribution of methamphetamine.

The indictment charges Palomares with four counts of violating United States law, specifically related to the importation and intended distribution of methamphetamine. The investigation into the case was conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations-Yuma.

An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Palomares entered the United States through San Luis, Arizona, on January 27, 2022. At the Port of Entry, Customs and Border Protection Officers discovered over a hundred packages containing a white crystal-like substance that were hidden in Palomares’ car. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine and the combined weight of the packages was over 150 pounds.

The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution of Palomares. The case number is CR-22-158-PHX-GMS, and the release number is 2022-024_Palomares.

Palomares’ case is a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of methamphetamine trafficking in the United States. The investigation and prosecution of Palomares serve as a warning to those involved in such activities that law enforcement is committed to bringing them to justice.

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