⏱ 2 min read
In a blow to transnational crime, three men have pleaded guilty to serious charges in Puerto Rico. Sergio Ramírez-Payano, Juan José De la Cruz Natera, and Yanzie Vázquez González were involved in drug trafficking and machinegun possession in San Juan, Puerto Rico, between July 2025 and July 2026. The crimes were uncovered by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), a permanent interagency law enforcement task force created to combat cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.
On July 21, 2026, Sergio Ramírez-Payano pleaded guilty to possessing a machinegun, and was charged with possessing with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and other related crimes. He was arrested on October 1, 2025, and will be sentenced on October 20, 2026.
On July 22, 2026, Juan José De la Cruz Natera and Yanzie Vázquez González pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. They were arrested on July 10, 2025, and will be sentenced on October 21, 2026.
The guilty pleas are a significant development in the fight against transnational crime in Puerto Rico. The HSTF and other law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle trafficking networks and bring those responsible to justice.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: Puerto Rico
- Location: PR
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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