A 48-year-old woman from Alamo, Texas, has pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Marina Saenz was stopped by law enforcement on June 11 while driving a white BMW SUV in Live Oak County for speeding. A police K-9 detected narcotics in the vehicle, leading officers to find a hidden compartment in the rear hatch that contained 29 bricks of cocaine weighing a total of 35.5 kilograms.
Saenz told authorities she had picked up the cocaine in Mexico and transported it across the border at the Progreso Port of Entry. She stated her intention was to deliver the drugs to North Carolina for $10,000. Saenz also acknowledged making previous trips involving similar quantities of cocaine.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos is scheduled to sentence Saenz on Feb. 24, 2026. She faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and could receive up to life in federal prison as well as a possible fine of up to $250,000.
Saenz remains in custody while awaiting sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Live Oak County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Griffith prosecuted the case.
