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Denny Andres Mero Anchundia, Ecuadorian National, Sentenced to 235 Months in Cocaine Smuggling Case
Birmingham, Alabama – In a major blow to international drug trafficking, Denny Andres Mero Anchundia, an Ecuadorian national, was sentenced to 235 months’ imprisonment for smuggling approximately 1,828 kilograms of cocaine in the Pacific Ocean. Anchundia pleaded guilty to the charges in December 2025.
According to court documents, on March 3, 2025, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Kimball intercepted a vessel suspected of smuggling drugs. The vessel, without nationality, was found in international waters with visible packages onboard, fuel barrels on deck, and three outboard engines.
The USCG boarding team confirmed the packages were consistent with cocaine and determined the vessel was without nationality. The team then transferred the six persons onboard, including Anchundia, and the cocaine back to the Kimball. Once onboard, the boarding team determined the weight of the cocaine as approximately 1,828 kilograms.
Anchundia, 235 months’ imprisonment, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer on December 4, 2025. The case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorney George F. May prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The six crew members were brought to the United States and charged under the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act.
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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