A federal jury in Florida has found Santo Tavarez Mateo, 43, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, guilty of attempting to import cocaine into the United States, United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced today.
Following the guilty verdict, Tavarez Mateo faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and could receive up to life in federal prison. A sentencing hearing date has not yet been determined.
The conviction comes after a three-day trial where testimony and evidence detailed an international drug smuggling attempt foiled by Colombian authorities. According to the evidence presented, Colombian National Police (CNP) officers at the Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport in Barranquilla, Colombia, targeted a suspicious cargo package for inspection. The shipment was scheduled to be transported by air from Barranquilla to Miami, with a final destination of Amsterdam.
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During the inspection, CNP officials found the cargo contained various food products, such as coconut cream, quinoa powder, and granulated quinoa. However, mixed within some of these food items was a significant quantity of cocaine, later confirmed by a CNP chemist.
Colombian authorities seized the illicit cargo and traced its origin to a company identified as Industria Derividos del Coco S.A.S. Further investigation revealed that Tavarez Mateo owned and operated this company using the alias “Aristides Castillo Castillo” and a counterfeit Colombian identity.
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Crucially, prosecutors presented evidence that Tavarez Mateo later admitted his role in the scheme to a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agent. He confessed to shipping the cargo containing the narcotics and confirmed he did so under the false identity.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, with vital cooperation and assistance from the Colombian National Police. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Buchanan and Lauren Stoia.
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