LAREDO, Texas – In a bizarre turn of events at the Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge, 57-year-old Mexican national Jose Luis Valverde-Ramos was convicted of conspiracy to import over 50 grams of methamphetamine. The jury reached a decision in just 30 minutes.
Valverde-Ramos arrived in a Mitsubishi Outlander with Mexican plates on June 14 and claimed his destination was Dallas for medical treatment. Secondary inspection flagged anomalies in the vehicle’s ceiling, leading to Valverde-Ramos’ arrest. An x-ray revealed an electronic compartment containing eight packages wrapped in clear plastic and adorned with Taco Bell Doritos Locos packaging.
The methamphetamine field tested positive, weighing 51.15 kilograms. The defense argued Valverde-Ramos was unaware of the drugs, but the jury remained unconvinced. Sentencing is scheduled for December 9, where he faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison.
“This case highlights the creative methods used by drug traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “The public should be aware that law enforcement remains vigilant against such tactics.”
The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, while Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bryan Oliver and Leslie Cortez prosecuted the case.
Valverde-Ramos is currently in custody awaiting transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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