Gulfport, Miss. – A massive heroin trafficking operation was foiled in Gulfport, Mississippi, after authorities arrested a 25-year-old illegal alien from Mexico with nine kilograms of heroin and one kilogram of fentanyl.
Eder Ortega-Casarrubias, 25, a Mexican national residing in Georgia, was caught in a sting operation on November 6, 2018, after negotiating with a confidential informant to deliver and sell heroin and fentanyl in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Ortega-Casarrubias was arrested along with two co-defendants, Pablo Vega-Ontanon and Eric Estudillo-Carrazco, after arriving in Gulfport with what they claimed was ten kilograms of heroin hidden in a compartment of their vehicle.
Upon further inspection, authorities discovered that the substance was actually nine kilograms of heroin and one kilogram of fentanyl. The amount of fentanyl seized is enough to kill up to half a million people, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Ortega-Casarrubias pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin on June 26, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.
Co-defendants Pablo Vega-Ontanon and Eric Estudillo-Carrazco are scheduled to go to trial on May 13, 2019.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Meynardie.
Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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