In Edinburg, a 51-year-old resident, Richard Nares, has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for attempting to import over 20 kilograms of methamphetamine into the country, according to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Nares had pleaded guilty on May 2, 2022, to the importation of 500 grams or more of meth.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane handed down the sentence, which includes five years of supervised release. The court considered factors such as the volume and purity of the meth. During the hearing, it was noted that the narcotics were concealed in vehicle batteries, contradicting Nares' claim that he believed he was trafficking marijuana.

The incident occurred on December 20, 2021, when Nares attempted to enter the United States from Mexico through the Hidalgo Port of Entry in a Dodge Ram 2500. Law enforcement noticed two commercial vehicle batteries in the truck's rear row, prompting a K-9 alert to the presence of narcotics. Upon dismantling the batteries, authorities discovered two bundles in each, and an additional four bundles were found in the connected batteries under the vehicle's hood.

Laboratory testing confirmed that the eight bundles contained meth with a total weight of 20.34 kilograms. Nares admitted to traveling to Mexico earlier that day and intending to hand over the vehicle, along with the narcotics, to another individual upon entering the United States.

Despite the charges, Nares was allowed to remain on bond and will voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Marshal in the near future.