A Mexican national, Jose Angel Ibarra-Rojas, has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for his involvement in a significant methamphetamine smuggling operation. The drugs, valued at nearly $3 million, were concealed within cabbages and discovered during an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Hidalgo County Constable’s Office.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton handed down the 132-month sentence on June 4, following Ibarra-Rojas's guilty plea on November 6, 2024. The court learned that the methamphetamine was cleverly hidden by removing cabbage heads and inserting balls of the drug into the leaves. As he is not a U.S. citizen, Ibarra-Rojas is expected to face deportation proceedings after serving his sentence.
Mark Lippa, ICE Homeland Security Investigations Rio Grande Valley Deputy Special Agent in Charge, stated: “This sentencing sends a strong message: any criminal who colludes with terrorist organizations to smuggle dangerous drugs into our communities will face harsh consequences." He praised the collaboration between HSI, CBP, and local partners in dismantling this operation.
The case unfolded when law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on June 18, 2024, in Pharr, Texas. Ibarra-Rojas was found as a passenger in a tractor trailer carrying over 1,000 packages of methamphetamine hidden among cabbages. The total weight of the seized drugs was approximately 1,356 kilograms.
Ibarra-Rojas admitted his awareness of the narcotics within the trailer and disclosed he had arranged similar transports multiple times before. He anticipated receiving $1,000 for coordinating this particular transport further north into the United States.
Currently in custody, Ibarra-Rojas awaits transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility yet to be determined. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell from the Southern District of Texas prosecuted this case.
