HSI Laredo, federal partner investigation results in a lengthy prison sentence for 2 Mexican citizens caught importing $1M in meth
LAREDO, Texas – Two men have been sentenced to federal prison for importing over 900 pounds of meth, following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Noe De Jesus Martinez-Montelongo, 36, and Fidel Rodriguez-Saldana, 35, both from Nuevo Leon, Mexico, were sentenced by a federal judge to 235 months in prison as well. Both must also serve five years of supervised release following their terms of imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the large amount of liquid narcotics that they were attempting to bring into the United States. Martinez-Montelongo and Rodriguez-Saldana were convicted Aug. 23, 2023, following a three-day trial.
“People who persist in distributing large quantities of methamphetamines should expect to face a significant prison sentence, as Martinez-Montelongo will now spend close to 20 years in prison,” said Special Agent in Charge, Craig Larrabee, HSI San Antonio. “To deter this conduct we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities and bring drug smugglers to justice.”
According to court documents, on Nov. 28, 2022, Martinez-Montelongo and Rodriguez-Saldana attempted to enter the United States at the Colombia Solidarity port of entry in Laredo, driving a tractor-trailer without a load. Authorities referred them to secondary inspection where a K-9 alerted to the tractor. Law enforcement conducted a scope and discovered a secret compartment in each diesel tank of the tractor. They were then able to extract some of the liquid which tested positive for meth. Authorities ultimately seized a total of 413 kilograms (910 pounds) of liquid meth which filled 22 buckets. The estimated wholesale value is approximately $1 million. At trial, Martinez-Montelongo and Rodriguez-Saldana claimed no knowledge of the liquid. They said they were simply supposed to pick up a legitimate load in Laredo. The jury did not believe their defense and found them guilty as charged.
Both remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Makens and Brandon Bowling, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted the case.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 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.
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