An Arizona man has pleaded guilty to trafficking thousands of pills containing carfentanil into Birmingham, U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. announced on July 17.
Ignacio Miguel Tirado-Castillo, of Arizona, pleaded guilty to conspiracy with intent to distribute and distribution of a fentanyl analogue and attempt to distribute a fentanyl analogue. Tirado-Castillo was charged by a federal grand jury in Birmingham in May 2025.
According to court documents, inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service in Denver notified their counterparts in Birmingham about a suspicious package sent from Phoenix, Arizona, to Midfield, Alabama. An inspector took custody of the package when it arrived at the post office on December 16, 2024. A K-9 alerted officers to narcotics inside the package. After obtaining a federal search warrant, inspectors found approximately 20,300 “M-30” pills containing carfentanil inside the package. Carfentanil is an analogue of fentanyl and is about 100 times more potent than fentanyl itself. Investigators identified Tirado-Castillo as the mailer; he admitted mailing the package.
A search of Tirado-Castillo’s iCloud account revealed further evidence including photos of firearms—some stolen—being transported to Mexico and depictions and discussions related to cartel violence.
Tirado-Castillo also faces charges for similar conduct in Nebraska. Agents arrested him in Arizona for that case and discovered an additional 25 pounds of carfentanil at his apartment.
“Thanks to the dedicated work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, thousands of lethal carfentanil pills were intercepted before they made their way onto our streets,” said Williams Jr., adding, “We will continue to leverage every resource to protect our communities from those who would destroy them through the distribution of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues.” Shameka Jackson, Inspector in Charge for USPIS Houston Division, said, “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service remains steadfast in its collaboration with law enforcement partners… We remain committed in preventing these illicit substances from entering the U.S. mail system, protecting our postal employees, and safeguarding our community.”
This case is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative involving Department of Justice resources targeting illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.
USPIS investigated alongside local police agencies; Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison J. Garnett prosecuted this case.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama advances community safety through public engagement initiatives; prosecutes federal crimes; defends civil cases involving the United States; recovers funds lost due to fraud; serves more than 2.8 million people across 31 counties including facilities in Birmingham and Huntsville; operates as part of the Department of Justice, according to the official website.