Tamaulipas man sentenced to federal prison, attempts to smuggle 55lbs of cocaine into U.S.

McALLEN, Texas ( ValleyCentral ) — A Tamaulipas man was sentenced to federal prison for importing 55 pounds of cocaine into the United States, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

On June 6, 2023, 53-year-old Fidel Aguirre-Montalvo pleaded guilty to importing cocaine to the United States.

On April 25, Aguirre arrived at the Pharr Port of Entry from Mexico. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he was referred to a secondary inspection, where authorities found 24 bundles of cocaine hidden in the floor area of the vehicle.

Aguirre admitted to authorities to bringing the narcotics into the U.S. in return for an “undisclosed amount of money.”

The cocaine weighed approximately 55.11 pounds, the release added.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton ordered Aguirre to serve nearly 4 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

He is pending a transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

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