CLEVELAND: Federal prosecutors said a McAllen man is a key figure in a heroin-smuggling operation stretching from the Rio Grande Valley to the northeast. They’re basing their case on a series of wiretaps.
Federal prosecutors charged Jose Alejandro Palacio with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin.
According to prosecutors, the conspiracy involved the smuggling of Chinese heroin from McAllen to Cleveland, Ohio. Court documents show investigators started working on the case last August.
FBI and DEA agents intercepted phone calls and text messages between Palacio and Efren Vega Sr., who is in Cleveland. Prosecutors claim the two agreed on a price of $60,000 for a kilogram of heroin.
Court documents state the wiretapped conversations were taking place as recently as 10 days ago.
Authorities said the conspiracy involved a sample of the drug sent from the Valley to Cleveland. Investigators said the drugs were in demand in Cleveland.
According to one allegedly intercepted phone conversation, Vega told Palacio, “The thing is it has to be right away, because the people (drug customers) here are all excited and they just want that…”
Members of a task force in Cleveland allegedly seized an envelope containing 500 grams of heroin earlier this month. Court documents don’t indicate whether investigators ever caught Palacio with any of the heroin in his possession. That’s apparently why the charge is conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute.
Court records show agents arrested Palacio six days ago. He’s being held in federal custody, until a detention hearing scheduled this morning in the McAllen federal court.
There’s no word yet on the result of that hearing.
