United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer has sentenced Tanyl Damian Anchundia-Rezebala, an Ecuadorian national, to 108 months in prison for his role in a massive cocaine smuggling operation. The sentence was handed down following Anchundia-Rezebala’s guilty plea on charges related to the transportation of over a ton of cocaine.
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) played a pivotal role in the case, detecting a drug-smuggling vessel operating without nationality标识 in international waters south of Manzanillo, Mexico, on September 24, 2024. The vessel was speeding north through a known drug trafficking area and displayed suspicious packages on deck.
Despite initial attempts to stop the vessel with warning shots, USCG personnel resorted to disabling fire, shooting out the engines to bring the smuggling boat to a halt. Video evidence captured smugglers abandoning packages into the ocean as the boat became immobile. A Zodiac-style boat was deployed from the USCG Cutter MUNRO, recovering 24 bales of cocaine with an at-sea weight of approximately 1,092 kilograms.
After capturing Anchundia-Rezebala and four other smugglers, the suspects were transferred to the USCG Cutter MUNRO along with the recovered drugs. The vessel was deemed a navigational hazard due to its distance from land and suitable tow points, leading to its sinking after law enforcement activities were completed.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama announced the charges against Anchundia-Rezebala, who was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a coordinated initiative targeting illegal immigration, cartels, and transnational criminal organizations.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Operation Take Back America leverages resources from various task forces to protect communities and combat violent crime across the nation.
RELATED: Ecuadorian Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry
RELATED: Brotherly Ransom: 2 Held Hostage Takers Plead Guilty
Related Federal Cases
- Badge Betrayal: Wilcox Deputy Sentenced in Cocaine Scheme · Alabama
- Alabama Border Busted: 60-Month Sentence for Cocaine Courier Telesforo Lozano · Texas
- Miller Gets 120-Month Sentence for Fed Cocaine Conspiracy · Alabama
- Army Families Ripped Off: $31M Kickback · Mississippi
- Tax Cheat Gets 18 Months for $1.2M Scam · Alabama
Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News