A Mexican national has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for smuggling methamphetamine into the United States through Laredo, according to court records filed in the Southern District of Texas.
Jose Calleros Avila, 46, was sentenced earlier this month to 87 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to import methamphetamine. The court also ordered three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen imposed the sentence.
The case stems from a June 1, 2025, crossing at the Colombia Solidarity Bridge in Laredo, according to a sworn affidavit.
Calleros Avila, identified in court records as a lawful permanent resident, applied for admission to the United States in a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban and told Customs and Border Protection officers he was returning from Matehuala, Mexico, with two duffel bags filled with candy for his children.
He gave what officers described as a negative declaration and was referred for further inspection after a computer-generated alert. During the secondary inspection, officers discovered 15 bundles concealed inside the liner of the duffel bags.
The bundles contained a crystal-like substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed a total of 15.44 kilograms, according to the affidavit. CBP estimated the drugs had a street value of about $312,000.
Homeland Security Investigations agents responded and continued the investigation. After being advised of his rights, Calleros Avila agreed to answer questions without an attorney and admitted he knew narcotics were in the duffel bags.
He told agents he was being paid $2,000 for the trip and admitted he made an arrangement with a person identified in court records as “Rosco” to bring the methamphetamine into the country.
He also agreed to deliver the drugs to a Dallas location operated by someone identified as “Gordo.”
After delivering the methamphetamine, Calleros Avila agreed to return for payment and wire money to individuals in Mexico as well as his girlfriend, according to court records.
Calleros Avila later admitted to smuggling narcotics from Mexico to the Dallas area four to five times and being paid $1,000 for each of his first three trips and $2,000 for each of the last two.
Calleros Avila pleaded guilty Nov. 4, 2025, to Count 1 of the indictment. The remaining count was later dismissed on the government’s motion, court records show. He remains in federal custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The case was investigated by HSI and CBP.
The court also imposed an immigration-related condition requiring him to report to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and comply with all instructions and reporting requirements until any deportation proceedings are completed. If ordered deported, he must remain outside the United States unless legally authorized to reenter, court records show.