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U.S. DEA recognizes efforts by Mexican Navy for Mahahual cocaine seizure

Mahahual, Q.R. — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in New York has recognized the work of Mexico’s Secretaría de Marina for the recent drug bust that saw nearly 3 tons of cocaine seized. The anti-drug office recognized the work and highlighted the cooperation of the Mexican Navy to frustrate cartel plans to bring drugs into the United States.

“Law enforcement thwarted cartel plans to saturate the American drug market with cocaine by intercepting nearly three tons of cocaine heading towards American towns,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge, Raymond Donovan.

HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh explained, “Cartels continue to operate with no regard for laws or human life, trafficking tons of deadly narcotics across the border and using bribery and intimidation to further their reach with government officials.”

New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett noted that the combined efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement, along with Mexican authorities, have disrupted the transportation of thousands of kilos of cocaine in the streets of America.

“This case continues our commitment and partnership to identify, arrest and prosecute anyone who tries to sell these dangerous drugs in our communities,” he added.

The DEA announced that the three detained by the Mexican Navy in the drug seizure were 45-year-old Raymundo Montoya-Lopez, 31-year-old Abraham Alfonso Garcia-Montoya and 39-year-old Felizardo Diaz-Hernandez, all of whom were charged in a criminal complaint in a Manhattan federal court with conspiring to import almost three tons of cocaine into the United States.

Their charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The charge arises from a September 1, 2020, seizure by Mexico’s Secretaría de Marina of approximately 2,960 kilograms of cocaine off the coast of Mahahual in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.