Drug smuggler sent to prison for six-kilo cocaine seizure at bridge

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 22-year-old U.S. citizen residing in Matamoros, Mexico, has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute 6.16 kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Javier Eduardo Vicencio pleaded guilty Aug. 24, 2023.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now ordered Vicencio to serve 48 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that while Vicencio had some character references, the court needed to consider the seriousness of the offense, protecting the public and a deterrence to criminal conduct because Vicencio had committed at least five prior successful drug crossings.

On May 2, 2023, Vicencio drove into the United States through the Gateway Port of Entry in Brownsville. He was the sole occupant of a Chevy Cobalt bearing Mexican license plates. Upon initial inspection, Vicencio denied possessing alcohol, weapons, drugs or other items. However, authorities noticed he appeared nervous and referred him to secondary inspection.

There, they observed anomalies in the side passenger fire wall which resulted in the discovery of 35.4 pounds of cocaine.

Vicencio claimed his family had owned the vehicle for about 10 years and he was trying to “help” them. He believed he was crossing the border with cocaine and would receive payment of $1,000 per trip for delivery to others in Brownsville.

Vicencio 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 Oscar Ponce prosecuted the case.