San Antonio Man Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Smuggling Meth and Fentanyl from Mexico

SAN ANTONIO - A San Antonio man who had resided in Coahuila, Mexico was sentenced in a federal court Thursday to 135 months in prison for smuggling more than 10 kgs of fentanyl and nearly 35 kgs of methamphetamine into the United States.

According to court documents, Ruben Martinez Martinez, 22, was stopped by a Guadalupe County Sheriff's deputy on Sept. 15, 2023 for traffic violations on Interstate 10. A return on the vehicle's license plate indicated that the vehicle had crossed into Mexico on Aug. 11, 2023 and returned into the U.S. the morning of Sept. 15. When questioned by the deputy, Martinez provided responses that were inconsistent and became visibly nervous.

A K9 search of the vehicle revealed a container of methamphetamine hidden in the fold of a collapsed center seat in the front of the vehicle. A search of the vehicle's camper shell led to the discovery of a compartment inside the roof. After the vehicle was relocated for further inspection, an X-ray revealed the outlines of bundles inside the roof that contained a white substance and other white and blue pills.

Approximately 39 packages were removed from the roof, and subsequent laboratory testing confirmed the white substance to be 34.9 kgs of methamphetamine and that there were 95,417 pills containing fentanyl. Martinez stated that he had followed directions to pick up the camper shell near Piedras Negras, Mexico the day prior to the traffic stop. He said he was transporting the narcotics to a location in Houston, where arrangements would be made for him to transfer the camper shell to someone else.

"Fentanyl and methamphetamine have been poisoning our communities and even causing the deaths of friends, neighbors, and loved ones throughout this district and across the nation," said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. "Working with our law enforcement partners to stop the illicit trafficking of these incredibly dangerous drugs is a top priority."

"DEA, along with its local partner, the Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office, successfully halted Ruben Martinez Martinez from funneling over 95,000 fentanyl pills into our communities, which could have resulted in a tragic number of deaths," said Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell for the Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Division. "These deadly doses could have shattered the lives of many families in the San Antonio area, but fortunately lives were saved, and it's all due to our collaborations with our state, local, and federal partners that have always shown to be a true force multiplier."

The DEA investigated the case with valuable assistance from the Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office and Guadalupe County Narcotics Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Fedock prosecuted the case.

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