Two illegal aliens from Mexico have been indicted after a Homeland Security Task Force investigation resulted in the seizure of nearly 60 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl, a firearm, and more than $66,000 in alleged drug proceeds, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina identified the defendants as Martin Eduardo Hernandez Nunez, 36, and Juan Carlos Mojarro Sanchez, 38.
Prosecutors allege the two men had ties to a Mexico-based transnational criminal organization responsible for distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine in the Charlotte area.
Both defendants are in federal custody.
They are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine, distribution of crystal methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine.
If convicted, each faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison, according to the Justice Department. A federal judge would determine any sentence after considering federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The charges are allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Meth, Fentanyl, Gun And Cash Seized
According to allegations in charging documents cited by federal prosecutors, investigators recovered nearly 30 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and two kilograms of fentanyl from the defendants’ residence in May 2026.
Investigators also seized a firearm, vacuum sealers, a money counter, drug ledgers, digital scales, and a large kilo press commonly used for repackaging narcotics.
Authorities separately obtained an additional four kilograms of crystal methamphetamine through controlled drug buys with the defendants, according to DOJ.
Law enforcement also executed a search warrant at a storage unit used by the defendants, seizing another 30 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine.
Investigators seized more than $66,000 in alleged drug proceeds over the course of the investigation.
DOJ characterized the overall enforcement action as resulting in the seizure of nearly 60 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Mexico-Based Trafficking Organization Alleged
Federal prosecutors allege Hernandez Nunez and Mojarro Sanchez had ties to a Mexico-based transnational criminal organization responsible for distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine in the Charlotte area.
The September 23 DOJ announcement does not identify a specific cartel in the case.
“We are laser focused on identifying transnational criminal organizations and their operatives who smuggle deadly drugs into our communities, fueling addiction and violence,” U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson said. “We are going after these organizations at every level to stop their drugs from reaching our streets.”
Mark M. Zito, special agent in charge of HSI Carolinas, said the operation removed drugs, a firearm, and alleged drug proceeds from circulation.
“In this case, the Homeland Security Task Force took nearly 60 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, fentanyl, a gun, and alleged drug money out of circulation,” Zito said.
Homeland Security Task Force Led Investigation
The case was investigated through the Homeland Security Task Force, or HSTF.
According to the Justice Department, the initiative was established under Executive Order 14159 and brings together federal, state, and local agencies to investigate cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, human-smuggling operations, human trafficking, and related crimes.
The Charlotte-area task force includes personnel from Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, DEA, ATF, IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, and numerous other federal, state, and local agencies.
The initiative is designed to combine resources across agencies when investigations involve overlapping issues such as narcotics trafficking, immigration violations, firearms, money laundering, human smuggling, or organized crime.
Similar Trafficking Cases Have Surfaced In Texas
Although Wednesday’s indictment was filed in North Carolina, federal authorities have used the same Homeland Security Task Force framework in Texas.
The Eastern District of Texas recently announced multiple HSTF prosecutions, including the case of Jose Romero-Sanchez, whom prosecutors described as an illegal alien from Mexico living in Dallas.
Authorities said Romero-Sanchez received multi-kilogram quantities of methamphetamine from Mexico and stored the drugs at his Dallas residence for further distribution. He was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison.
The Dallas Express has also previously reported on Raymundo Bernal Saucedo, an illegal alien from Mexico, who was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison in March after federal investigators tied him to a Dallas-Fort Worth methamphetamine distribution cell connected with drug brokers in Michoacán, Mexico.
Federal investigators said that case involved kilogram-level methamphetamine distribution, firearms, and drug-trafficking records.
Texas Border Has Seen Massive Meth Seizures
Texas ports of entry have also recorded major methamphetamine seizures this year.
In June, The Dallas Express reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized more than 8,000 pounds of suspected methamphetamine worth an estimated $72.3 million during two separate commercial-vehicle inspections at the Laredo and Pharr ports of entry.
In August, CBP officers at the Pharr International Bridge discovered 1,675.51 pounds of alleged methamphetamine concealed in a commercial shipment manifested as fresh celery.
The Dallas Express reported that officers found 721 packages with an estimated value of nearly $15 million in the celery shipment.
Immigration Prosecutions Continue In Texas
Wednesday’s announcement also comes during continued federal immigration enforcement in Texas.
Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas filed 264 immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from September 11 through September 17, according to a September 18 DOJ announcement.
The cases included charges against alleged alien smugglers and illegal aliens with prior convictions or previous removals.
The Dallas Express also reported on that one-week surge in immigration prosecutions.
Provided by Dallas Express
