An Arizona man has been indicted in a federal drug trafficking case involving carfentanil sent to Alabama, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
Ignacio Miguel Tirado-Castillo, 19, faces two counts in U.S. District Court: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a fentanyl analogue and attempt to distribute a fentanyl analogue in December 2024. He was arrested on August 11, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona and ordered detained late last week.
At his detention hearing, evidence presented indicated that Tirado-Castillo allegedly mailed approximately 25 pounds of carfentanil to Alabama. The maximum penalty for the charges is life in prison.
The case was investigated and prosecuted by the Alabama Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, created through Executive Order 14159. Operation Take Back America is described as a nationwide federal initiative that brings together resources from several agencies—including Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN)—to combat illegal immigration, criminal organizations, and violent crime.
The U.S. Postal Service conducted the investigation alongside the Birmingham Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison J. Garnett is prosecuting the case.
"An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty."
