Man who tried to smuggle meth disguised as horse vitamins gets 10 years

A 42-year-old Illinois man on Thursday was sentenced for trying to smuggle approximately 117 pounds of liquid methamphetamine hidden in containers labeled as containing horse vitamins.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane sentenced Cruz Vargas to a decade in prison for the attempt. He pleaded guilty on March 4, 2023.

Vargas was arrested on July 24, 2022 after he arrived at the Rio Grande City Port of Entry in a 2012 Dodge Caravan with 12 sealed containers.

During a secondary inspection, CBP officers saw two boxes in the rear of the minivan, according to a criminal complaint.

“The boxes were opened, and each revealed 6 sealed containers labeled as horse vitamin pellets. When CBP Officers opened the containers, they found a liquid substance inside and not pellets,” the complaint stated. “The liquid substance inside each container was field tested and each was determined to contain methamphetamine. The labels appeared to be counterfeit.”

Vargas waived his rights and spoke to investigators without a lawyer present after his arrest.

He admitted he was going to be paid $6,000 for the smuggling attempt and that a man in Camargo, Tamaulipas offered him the job on July 19, 2022.

The day of the smuggling attempt, Vargas said he met with two unknown men at a car wash in Camargo, Tamaulipas and they placed the boxes in his minivan.

“Vargas stated that he was given a receipt that indicated the purchase of Red Cell Vitamins (for horses) and some chicken feed,” the complaint stated. “One of the unknown men told Vargas that once he crossed into the U.S., to call the male subject and that he would give Vargas further instructions.”

He has remained in custody since his arrest.

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