NEW YORK: A man who allegedly tried smuggling methamphetamine through an international bridge by concealing it in two boxes of candy has been indicted in a Laredo federal court.
A grand jury indicted Raymond Josue Lopez-Fregoso Tuesday on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
He faces up to 20 years if convicted.
Lopez-Fregoso was arrested Nov. 27 at the Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge.
That day, he arrived in a Honda Fit, according to a criminal complaint filed Nov. 30.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers said they noticed Lopez-Fregoso “visibly nervous” while inspecting the trunk area of the vehicle.
CBP officers said they discovered two boxes full of candy inside.
“During secondary inspection, (CBP officers) discovered that some of the individual packets of candy contained a white crystalline substance,” states the criminal complaint.
CBP said it seized 29 pounds of methamphetamine valued at $435,000.
Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations took over the case. Records state Lopez-Fregoso had been tasked with driving the narcotics to Houston.
On Dec. 3, U.S. Magistrate Judge Guillermo Garcia ordered Lopez-Fregoso into the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
