Texas woman pleads guilty to trafficking meth through the mail following HSI Corpus Christi, Texas DPS investigation

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A Texas woman pleaded guilty Nov. 7 to trafficking liquid methamphetamines in shampoo bottles through the mail following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Corpus Christi and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Elena Barrera, a 45-year-old resident of Mathis, pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Texas to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute liquid methamphetamines.

As part of her plea, Barrera admitted to using the mail to receive multiple other packages of narcotics and to recruiting others to retrieve packages of narcotics for her.

The investigation into Barrera began in November 2020 when authorities learned of a parcel containing liquid meth that was being shipped from Mexico to Mathis. Law enforcement officials intercepted the package and found approximately 7 kilograms of liquid meth concealed in shampoo bottles. They conducted a controlled delivery at the post office and Barrera picked up the package.

Barrera is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 30, 2024. At that time, she faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million fine.

Barrera was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Foster is prosecuting the case.

For more news and information on HSI’s efforts to aggressively investigate drug trafficking in Southeast Texas, follow us on X, formerly known as 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’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.