A Mexican national has been handed a five-year federal prison sentence after admitting his involvement in a human smuggling operation. Prosecutors detailed how the scheme employed THC-laced candy to sedate children, some as young as five years old, before illegally transporting them across the U.S.-Mexico border.
During one of these illicit crossings, a child suffered from THC poisoning and required hospitalization after consuming the drug-infused confectionery.
Charges and the Smuggling Operation
Manuel Valenzuela, 35, entered a guilty plea last November to multiple charges. These included one count of conspiracy to transport aliens, three counts of bringing aliens into the United States for financial gain, and one count of aiding and abetting.
Valenzuela was among four individuals indicted last year in connection with the alleged smuggling ring. Authorities accused the group of transporting unaccompanied children, ranging from ages five to thirteen, from Juárez, Mexico, into the United States.
Court documents reveal that smugglers presented U.S. identification documents to border officials, falsely asserting they were the children's parents. Following their unauthorized entry, the children were then transported to El Paso.
Investigators also recovered "proof-of-life" photographs of some of the children from the cellphones of the suspects involved in the case.
The criminal complaint indicates that the smuggling incidents took place between May 1 and October 18, 2024.
Law Enforcement Condemnation
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division strongly condemned the operation, emphasizing its egregious nature.
Needing to sedate children with THC under the guise of giving them candy shows just how heinous crimes like this are.
Duva further elaborated on the deceptive tactics used by the criminals.
Smuggling unaccompanied children into the country, pretending to be their parents, and then lying to U.S. immigration officials shows the lengths to which criminals like this will go to smuggle children across our borders. The Criminal Division and our law enforcement partners will put an end to this conduct. Protecting children and keeping our borders safe go hand-in-hand.
Ryan McRae, Acting Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, stated that exploiting children in such smuggling activities demonstrates a "total disregard for human life and safety."
Using THC-infused candy to facilitate the smuggling of children across the border into the United States is reprehensible and cruel and puts vulnerable minors at serious risk. HSI will relentlessly pursue transnational criminal organizations responsible for these heinous tactics and bring them to justice.
