Mexican Police Officer Indicted for Importing Meth

LAREDO, Texas – A federal grand jury has just returned an indictment charging a 41-year-old Mexican citizen with conspiracy to import methamphetamine and importation of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. 

Gabriel Garrido Isaias was originally charged by criminal complaint March 15, 2019, and was later remanded to custody. Today, a Laredo grand jury returned the two-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to import and importing methamphetamine into the United States. He is set for his arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam Sheldon on April 18, 2019. 

According to court documents, Isaias approached the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge #2 on March 14, 2019, driving a Ford F-150. He was sent to secondary examination after which an x-ray examination allegedly revealed anomalies in all four tires. A search of the tires resulted in the discovery of 38.36 kilograms of methamphetamine, according to the allegations.

Further investigation revealed the defendant to be a resident of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and is currently a Mexican police officer.  

If convicted, he faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney April Ayers-Perez is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.