Man pleads guilty to cocaine trafficking charge

A 19 year old man from Mexico has been charged with possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. He will face sentencing later this month.

On January 3, 2014, United States Border Patrol, RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime (FSOC) and Osoyoos RCMP combined efforts in arresting two males near the Boot Lake area East of Oroville/Osoyoos Lake.

Andy GARCIA MACIAS had already crossed the border into Canada and was carrying a backpack containing 9 bricks of cocaine weighing approximately 9 kgs. The second male had already re-entered the US and was arrested there with nothing in his possession. A thorough search of the arrest area revealed a second backpack containing an additional 8 bricks of cocaine.

“This investigation is an example of excellent inter-agency collaboration involving the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the United States Border Patrol,” says Cpl. Laurie White, RCMP FSOC spokesperson.

GARCIA MACIAS has entered a guilty plea and sentencing will take place May 26, 2014.