TUCSON - A Mexican national was sentenced to spend 135 months in federal prison this week for his role in a drug smuggling case, which authorities began investigating nearly 15 years ago.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Victor A. Flores, 52, of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico was found guilty of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 8 tons of cocaine. The cocaine had been smuggled into the U.S. through a tunnel that extended from Mexico into Naco, Ariz.
During the conspiracy, Flores stored approximately 1 ton of cocaine in his home, acting U.S. Attorney Ann Birmingham Scheel said.
The investigation began after more than 5 tons of cocaine was seized from a warehouse in Tucson in December 1996, U.S. Attorney spokeswoman Sandy Raynor said. During the investigation, authorities seized 2,660 lbs. of cocaine, 3 fully automatic machine guns and $1.5 million in cash.
More than 50 people connected to the Naco tunnel have been convicted, Raynor said.
Flores was supposed to face trial for his involvement in the cocaine conspiracy in 2001, but fled one week before the trial started, Raynor said. He was arrested in Mexico in 2010 and extradited back to the U.S.
The overall investigation was conducted in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Victor A. Flores, 52, of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico was found guilty of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 8 tons of cocaine. The cocaine had been smuggled into the U.S. through a tunnel that extended from Mexico into Naco, Ariz.
During the conspiracy, Flores stored approximately 1 ton of cocaine in his home, acting U.S. Attorney Ann Birmingham Scheel said.
The investigation began after more than 5 tons of cocaine was seized from a warehouse in Tucson in December 1996, U.S. Attorney spokeswoman Sandy Raynor said. During the investigation, authorities seized 2,660 lbs. of cocaine, 3 fully automatic machine guns and $1.5 million in cash.
More than 50 people connected to the Naco tunnel have been convicted, Raynor said.
Flores was supposed to face trial for his involvement in the cocaine conspiracy in 2001, but fled one week before the trial started, Raynor said. He was arrested in Mexico in 2010 and extradited back to the U.S.
The overall investigation was conducted in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.