A man from Mexico has been sentenced to life in prison after attempting to smuggle a significant amount of liquid methamphetamine—around half a ton—concealed in the fuel tank of a truck at the California border.
Alonso Cesena Camacho, a 26-year-old from Tijuana, was caught with nearly 1,000 pounds of liquid meth when he was stopped during a routine inspection at the San Diego border last week, according to prosecutors.
He was trying to bring drugs into the U.S. through the Otay Mesa import facility when agents from Customs and Border Protection noticed a white, crystal-like substance on his truck’s fuel tank, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
After following Camacho’s vehicle, officers discovered 29 buckets filled with liquid meth hidden in the passenger-side fuel tank, weighing a total of about 995 pounds. Tests confirmed that the substance was methamphetamine.
In a criminal complaint filed in a San Diego federal court, it was noted that Camacho claimed he intended to enter the U.S. on a business visa and planned to leave his truck in an Otay Mesa parking area in return for $1,000.
Federal agents subsequently arrested him, and he faced charges for importing a controlled substance. His potential sentence could range from 10 years to life, along with fines that might reach up to $10 million.
Last Tuesday, Federal Judge Jill L. Burkhardt ruled that Camacho should be held without bail due to concerns he might flee.
His next appearances in court are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 17 and an arraignment on March 26.
There was no response from Camacho’s attorney when they were contacted for comment.
U.S. prosecutors indicated that the investigation is being led by the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection.
