Illegal Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Meth/Fentanyl in Fuel Tank

ALPINE, TX — In a federal court appearance in Pecos, a woman from Chihuahua, Mexico, admitted to smuggling fentanyl and methamphetamine into the U.S., concealing the narcotics within her car's fuel tank. Sandra Araceli Diaz Vazquez, 37, entered a guilty plea for her role in attempting to distribute these drugs across the United States.

The arrest of Diaz Vazquez occurred on December 5, 2023, following a traffic stop on Interstate 20 near Colorado City, initiated due to two traffic violations. Upon consenting to a search of her vehicle, law enforcement discovered approximately 20.2 kilograms (about 44.5 pounds) of methamphetamine and 5.6 kilograms (about 12.3 pounds) of fentanyl hidden inside the fuel tank.