Tamaulipas man sentenced for importing 25 kilograms of cocaine into the United States

McALLEN, Texas - A 58-year-old man has been sentenced for importing 25 kilograms of cocaine into the United States from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Fidel Aguirre-Montalvo pleaded guilty June 6, 2023.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Aguirre to serve 46 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

On April 25, Aguirre arrived in a vehicle at the Pharr Port of Entry from Mexico. Authorities then referred him for secondary inspection where they discovered 24 bundles of cocaine hidden in the floor area of the vehicle. Aguirre admitted to attempting to bring narcotics into the country in return for an undisclosed amount of money.

The cocaine weighed approximately 25 kilograms.

Aguirre will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case.