Six individuals arrested near the Sarita Border Patrol checkpoint in Texas could face a sentence from 10 years to life in federal prison after agents found more than 500 pounds of cocaine hidden in three different vehicles.
The seizure took place on Feb. 22 at around 8:15 a.m., when Border Patrol agents stopped a white Ford F-150 for an immigration inspection. According to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas, a K-9 unit smelled something suspicious and sent the vehicle to a secondary inspection.
While taking a look at the vehicle, Border Report says agents found 114 packages of cocaine stuffed in travel bags. Once Homeland Security Investigations agents questioned the occupants of the F-150, one of the individuals confessed to transporting cocaine.
According to the complaint, Juan Carlos Zuniga "also admitted to supplying narcotics to two vehicles that drove in tandem." After Zuniga confessed, Border Patrol agents started looking for a black GMC Sierra and a white Buick Envista.
The black GMC Sierra arrived at the checkpoint half an hour after questioning Zuniga. CBP agents found 67 packages of cocaine hidden in similar travel bags inside the vehicle.
The third vehicle was tracked down by agents and intercepted about a mile from the Sarita checkpoint. During the search, agents found 46 additional packages of cocaine.
HSI agents interviewed the driver, a woman identified as Magdalena Sauceda, who handed over her phone which contained text messages between her and Zuniga where they discussed "the purchase of travel bags" as well as justifications for her "unexplained income," the criminal complaint said.
After being arrested, the six individuals remain in federal custody and court records do not list attorneys for any of them, according to Border Report.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, apprehensions along the U.S.-Mexico border have dropped considerably, but drug seizures have remained a problem.
According to data published by the CBP, since the start of Fiscal Year 2025, Border Patrol agents have already seized more than a third of the total cocaine seized during FY2024.
"The men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection are aggressively implementing the President's Executive Orders to secure our borders. These actions have already resulted in dramatic improvements in border security," said Acting Commissioner Pete Flores.
"The reduction in illegal aliens attempting to make entry into the U.S., compounded by a significant increase in repatriations, means that more officers and agents are now able to conduct the enforcement duties that make our border more secure and our country safer," he added.
Since October, CBP agents have seized more than 163,000 pounds of illicit drugs along the border, with more than 26,000 pounds being cocaine.
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