2 Mexican nationals charged with conspiring to traffic meth precursors, synthesized meth following HSI Houston, DEA investigation

WASHINGTON - An Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles Division has resulted in two Mexican nationals being charged in the District of Columbia with conspiring to traffic methamphetamines and the precursor chemicals needed to manufacture methamphetamines.

An indictment was unsealed Feb. 8 charging Carlos Algredo Vazquez, 57, and Francisco Pulido Coracero, 65, both of Michoacan, Mexico, with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine for importation into the United States and conspiracy to distribute listed chemicals for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine for importation into the United States.

If convicted, Algredo Vazquez and Pulido Coracero each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.

According to allegations in court documents, beginning in 2011, Algredo Vazquez and Pulido Coracero allegedly used seemingly legitimate companies in Mexico and the United States to acquire listed chemicals including methylamine, nitroethane, phenylacetic acid, toluene and acetone from companies in China, India and elsewhere. They allegedly imported the chemicals into Mexico and provided them to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion and other Mexican drug-trafficking organizations to manufacture methamphetamine ultimately destined for importation into the United States.

Trial Attorneys Kate Naseef and Nhan Nguyen and Acting Assistant Deputy Chief Kaitlin Sahni of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case.

For more news and information on HSI’s efforts to aggressively investigate narcotics trafficking in Southeast Texas follow us on Twitter @HSIHouston.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.