Mexican Man Pleads Guilty To Bringing 1.4 Million Fentanyl Pills Across Border

Monday, October 21, 2024, 7:30 ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

MCALLEN, TX.- A 38-year-old Mexican man is facing spending the rest of his life in federal prison after admitting guilt for his role in smuggling nearly a million and a half fentanyl pills across the U.S.-Mexico border in April 2024.

     On Friday, October 18, 2024, Juan Jesus Orozco-Vargas, 38, of Mexico, appeared in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Drew B. Tipton to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl.

     According to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani, on April 5, 2024, a tractor-trailer containing 24 pallets of limes crossed over from Mexico into the United States through the Pharr Port of Entry and arrived at a warehouse in McAllen, Texas. Orozco-Vargas was waiting at the warehouse to supervise the transfer of the pallets.

     While warehouse workers were unloading the boxes of limes, a pallet broke, causing pink and blue fentanyl pills stamped “M30” to spill all over the floor.

Orozco-Vargas Attempted To Flee

     Orozco-Vargas attempted to flee the warehouse after someone alerted law enforcement, who were already aware of the shipment and were conducting surveillance of the warehouse. However, upon their arrival at the warehouse, law enforcement quickly apprehended Orozco-Vargas.

     During Friday’s plea hearing, Orozco-Vargas admitted that he was in the warehouse to ensure the pallets were not damaged. He planned to move the pallets containing the fentanyl pills to the side so they could be transported from the warehouse into the interior of the United States. He further admitted on Friday that he would be paid for his services.

     During the examination of the pallets, law enforcement officers uncovered 1.4 million fentanyl pills with a total weight of 152.98 kilograms.

      Following entering his guilty plea, Judge Tipton accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for February 4, 2025. At which time, Orozco-Vargas face up to life in federal prison and a $10 million fine.

     “At 1.4 million doses, this is one of the largest seizures of fentanyl the Southern District of Texas has prosecuted,” said Hamandi. “Removing these deadly pills from the streets of American cities, especially streets that are a few miles away from Mexico, will only save countless lives. My office is committed to dismantling trafficking organizations that flood the United States with deadly fentanyl. This prosecution is emblematic of that commitment.”

     “Today’s guilty plea further emphasizes how critical the investigative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations are, particularly those involving the smuggling of fentanyl into the United States,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee on Friday. “HSI is relentless in its fight against those who deliberately engage in the illicit manufacturing and trafficking of dangerous drugs. We will continue to identify and investigate those who seek to introduce lethal drugs into our communities.”