Mexican Ex-Cop Dukes It Out Over 27.8 Kilos of Meth

A staggering 27.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, hidden in a gas tank, was seized at the Presidio Point of Entry in Texas.

Former Mexican police officer Cesar Alonzo Lopez Ruiz, 34, of Rosales, Mexico, attempted to enter the United States from Mexico.

Lopez Ruiz, a former Mexican national with a badge, pleaded guilty in a federal court in Alpine to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

A search of his vehicle revealed 50 packages of methamphetamine hidden inside the gas tank.

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas announced the guilty plea.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Greenbaum and Amy Greenbaum are prosecuting the case.

Lopez Ruiz is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 26 and faces a penalty of 10 years to life in prison.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

As a former law enforcement officer turned trafficker, Lopez Ruiz’s actions are a betrayal of the public’s trust, and his punishment should be severe.

This case serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by transnational organized crime groups and the need for continued vigilance at our borders.