Large methamphetamine seizure at Eagle Pass port leads to federal prison sentence for Houston man
Houston, Texas – A Houston man will spend over 14 years behind bars after being sentenced in federal court for importing and trafficking methamphetamine. Alfonso Avellaneda Chavarrieta, 25, received a 168-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to four federal charges related to a large drug smuggling attempt in 2021.
Meth Found Hidden in Vehicle Tires at Port of Entry
According to court documents, on November 17, 2021, Chavarrieta attempted to cross into the United States through the Eagle Pass Port of Entry. During the entry process, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers referred his vehicle for a secondary inspection. A trained canine alerted officers to possible contraband, prompting a thorough search of the vehicle.
Officers discovered 64 bundles of methamphetamine hidden inside the rear tires of the car. Laboratory testing confirmed the total weight to be 31.4 kilograms with an extremely high purity level of 97%.
Chavarrieta was indicted on December 8, 2021, on four separate counts. He later pleaded guilty to all charges on August 22, 2022, and was recently sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses.
The sentencing announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. The case was jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Fleming and Amy Greenbaum led the prosecution.
This sentencing underscores the serious federal penalties for high-volume meth trafficking and the ongoing efforts of U.S. law enforcement to crack down on drug smuggling at the southern border.
