A Mexican national has been sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison for his role in attempting to smuggle 163 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine into Texas. The drugs were discovered concealed within two freshly painted propane tanks found in the back of a tow truck.
Paul Ivan Palmero-Martinez, 51, was apprehended on June 5, 2022, at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry while driving a Ford F350 tow truck. He claimed he was traveling from Piedras Negras, Mexico, to San Antonio to buy motorbikes for his business, insisting he had nothing to declare.
Upon further inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, Palmero-Martinez was directed to secondary inspection where he modified his story, stating he was actually going to purchase an engine in San Antonio.
During the inspection, CBP officers opened the back of his truck, revealing two large propane tanks that appeared newly painted. A K9 unit responded to the scent of narcotics, prompting a deeper investigation that uncovered six large packages of methamphetamine weighing a total of 168.2 kilograms.
In discussions with agents from ICE Homeland Security Investigations, Palmero-Martinez admitted that he was to be compensated by a co-conspirator for transporting the narcotics to San Antonio. He also revealed that he had previously made similar trips with the F350 to create a crossing history, having received $800 from his accomplice for this purpose.
Following his arrest, Palmero-Martinez faced a four-count indictment and ultimately pled guilty to one count on September 19, 2022. The investigation was conducted by ICE HSI, with the prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner.
