Mexican Woman Digs Up 90 Pounds of Fentanyl on I-10

RIVERSIDE, California – A U.S. citizen living in Mexico is behind bars after a massive fentanyl bust on Interstate 10 in Indio.

Adriana Galindo, 34, of San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico, is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance after a Border Patrol stop on May 14 yielded over 90 pounds of fentanyl pills.

According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Border Patrol agents were conducting vehicle stops along I-10 in the Indio area when they stopped a 2015 black Chevrolet Malibu driven by Galindo, accompanied by her 14-year-old son.

Galindo allegedly told agents they were driving to Los Angeles to purchase clothing for a retail store in Mexico and were planning to return home later that day. However, a trained narcotics K-9 conducted a free-air sniff of the vehicle and alerted fellow law enforcement to the presence of narcotics odor.

After consenting to a search of the car, law enforcement seized approximately 93.3 pounds (42.3 kilograms) of fentanyl pills discovered in a non-factory compartment located under the car’s front seats. Galindo was subsequently arrested, while her son was released to the custody of his aunt, a California resident.

A complaint is merely an allegation, and Galindo is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, she faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and United States Border Patrol are investigating this matter, with Assistant United States Attorney Danbee C. Kim of the General Crimes Section handling the prosecution.

Galindo is expected to make her initial appearance in United States District Court in Riverside today, where she will face the allegations against her. We will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.