⏱ 2 min read
Two Colombian nationals, Johan Leandro Zapata-Valencia and Christian Yesid Lugo-Beltran, both 26, were caught trafficking 21 kilograms of cocaine in Calera, Alabama, on February 6, 2025. The duo, who were in the US illegally, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and were sentenced to 57 months in prison. The bust occurred after a Calera Police Department officer noticed suspicious behavior at a Chevron gas station, leading to a traffic stop on I-65.
The officer’s instincts proved correct, as the stop uncovered a significant amount of cocaine. U.S. Attorney Phil Williams praised the local law enforcement’s efforts, stating that the case represents the best of local law enforcement. The 21 kilograms of cocaine seized poses a significant threat to the safety and well-being of the community.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Steven N. Schrank emphasized the agency’s commitment to working with law enforcement partners to keep dangerous drugs off the streets. The case demonstrates the relentless pursuit of those who seek to profit from trafficking narcotics into neighborhoods.
The sentencing of Zapata-Valencia and Lugo-Beltran serves as a warning to those involved in cocaine trafficking. The collaboration between local law enforcement and federal agencies has resulted in the removal of a substantial amount of cocaine from the streets of Alabama.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: Alabama
- Location: AL
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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