Tagged News

• Son of drug kingpin 'El Chapo' pleads guilty in US drug trafficking case in a plea deal

  December 1, 2025 6:16 PM

  CHICAGO (AP) — One of the sons of notorious Mexican drug kingpin "El Chapo" pleaded guilty on Monday to U.S. drug trafficking charges, months after his brother entered a plea deal. Known locally in Mexico as the "Chapitos," or "little Chapos," Joaquin Guzman Lopez and brother Ovidio Guzman Lopez... more »

• Records: Employees at Donna drive-thru sold $40 worth of cocaine to undercover officers Play Video

  September 19, 2025 8:45 PM

  Employees at a Donna drive-thru that was the target of a Sept. 11 drug bust sold $40 of cocaine to undercover agents with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission prior to the raid, according to criminal complaints obtained by Channel 5 News. Nicolasa Limon Lopez, Milagros Aide Ruiz and Esmeralda... more »

• Records: Former Hidalgo County detention center employee worked with Weslaco murder suspect to smuggle drugs Play Video

  September 18, 2025 5:35 PM

  A detention officer was smuggling drugs into the Hidalgo County detention center and delivering them to an inmate charged with murder, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Channel 5 News. Ronaldo Rodriguez was identified by the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office as the former detention center employee accused as... more »

• Fourth suspect arrested following drug bust at Donna drive-thru Play Video

  September 18, 2025 1:52 PM

  Authorities identified the three suspects arrested following a raid at a Donna drive-thru business, and announced the arrest of a fourth suspect. Nicolasa Limon Lopez, Milagros Aide Ruiz and Esmeralda Guerra were arrested on multiple drug charges following the Sept. 11 raid at Pechocho's Drive-Thru, located at 1241 East... more »

• Trump says the US military again targeted a boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela

  September 16, 2025 3:51 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said the U.S. military on Monday again targeted a boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela, killing three aboard the vessel, and hinted that the military targeting of cartels could be further expanded. "The Strike occurred while these confirmed narcoterrorists from Venezuela were in... more »

• Multiple arrests made at Donna drive-thru in connection with criminal investigation Play Video

  September 13, 2025 3:26 PM

  Three individuals were arrested in connection with a joint criminal investigation involving the Donna Police Department and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Donna police and the TABC executed a narcotics search warrant at Pechocho's Drive-Thru, located at 1241 East Business 83 on September 11. Two employees and a... more »

• Long-elusive Mexican drug lord Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada pleads guilty in US

  August 25, 2025 3:50 PM

  NEW YORK (AP) — Former Mexican cartel kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada pleaded guilty Monday to U.S. drug trafficking charges, saying he was sorry for helping flood the U.S. with cocaine, heroin and other illicit substances and for fueling deadly violence in Mexico. "I recognize the great harm illegal... more »

• McAllen man sentenced after admitting to sending over 220 pounds of coke by mail 'a day'

  July 16, 2025 12:20 PM

  A McAllen man was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in federal prison after admitting to mailing out hundreds of pounds of cocaine in the mail, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Texas. Narciso Dominguez III pleaded guilty to federal drug charges on March 27, and his... more »

• More than $668,000 in cocaine seized at Hidalgo International Bridge

  July 1, 2025 3:38 PM

  U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted more than $668,000 in alleged cocaine concealed within a vehicle at the Hidalgo International Bridge, according to a news release. According to the news release, CBP officers at the bridge encountered a Ford SUV attempting to enter the United States from Mexico... more »

• McAllen man, Mexican national sentenced for drug trafficking

  June 25, 2025 1:47 PM

  A McAllen man and a Mexican national have been sentenced for trafficking narcotics, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei. The news release said 24-year-old Cesar Gonzales, of McAllen, and 40-year-old Miguel Angel Reyes-Sanchez, a Mexican national in the United States illegally, pleaded... more »

• Report: Beer and narcotics found with Progreso ISD school board president during arrest Play Video

  June 19, 2025 11:31 AM

  Progreso Independent School District School Board President Juan Jose Ramos Jr. was found with six bottles of Michelob Ultra and narcotics at the time of his arrest, according to an arrest report. The report said a Weslaco police officer was dispatched to the 1900 block of Brightwood Avenue on... more »

• Border Patrol agents seize narcotics hidden inside tractor in Los Indios Play Video

  June 16, 2025 5:51 PM

  U.S. Border Patrol agents intercepted a narcotics smuggling operation on June 13 near Los Indios, according to a news release. Agents seized 15.5 pounds of cocaine, worth an estimated $496,000, and arrested one individual, according to the news release. The news release said at around 8:20 p.m., agents... more »

• Records: Driver charged in deadly McAllen crash disregarded multiple red lights Play Video

  May 23, 2025 4:56 PM

  The driver accused of driving while intoxicated and causing a deadly vehicle crash was seen on surveillance footage disregarding multiple red lights prior to the collision, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Channel 5 News. The complaint said Dionicio Luna Aguirre also tested positive for multiple narcotics. ... more »

• Officers catch McAllen woman with 11 kilos of cocaine Play Video

  February 3, 2020 3:50 PM

  PHARR – U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested a McAllen woman on Saturday, when she attempted to cross the Pharr bridge with 11 kilograms of cocaine, according to the federal criminal complaint against her. Yesmin Corona, 37, of McAllen attempted to cross the bridge from Reynosa to Pharr on... more »

• San Benito ISD Coach Charged for Cocaine Possession Play Video

  December 31, 2019 11:17 AM

  MERCEDES – A Rio Grande Valley coach is facing charges after he was arrested over the weekend. According to Mercedes police, Jacob Gonzalez, a coach at San Benito High School, was arrested during a traffic stop for possession of cocaine, a controlled substance. He was released on bond Saturday.... more »

• Ongoing Narcotics Investigation Leads to Elsa Man’s Arrest

  October 14, 2019 4:21 PM

  ELSA – An Elsa man was charged over the weekend in connection to an ongoing narcotics investigation. Police arrested and charged 47-year-old Oscar Dorantes with the manufacture and deliver of a controlled substance and resisting arrest. Authorities executed a search warrant at the 500 block of North Fannin... more »

• Ongoing Drug Investigations Lead to Two Arrests in Hidalgo County Play Video

  September 7, 2019 8:30 PM

  ELSA- Two men were arrested in connection to two separate drug busts in Hidalgo County. On Thursday, Elsa police arrested Manuel Guerrero after executing a warrant at a home on Crenshaw Avenue in Edcouch. Inside the home, they found cocaine, marijuana, cash, scales, packaging material and a handgun.... more »

• 49-Year-Old Charged for Possession following Harlingen Traffic Stop

  August 20, 2019 4:28 PM

  HARLINGEN – A man arrested during a traffic stop in Harlingen has been charged. Police say 49-year-old Floribeto Andraca was charged with possession of a controlled substance. On Sunday, Andraca was pulled over for tailgating another vehicle with the tractor-trailer he was driving. Officials say he became... more »

• Traffic Enforcement Leads to Cocaine Bust in Harlingen Play Video

  August 18, 2019 9:04 PM

  HARLINGEN- A complaint over street racing led to a drug bust in Harlingen. Police say around 3:00 Sunday afternoon, they were working traffic enforcement on the expressway. That's when an officer noticed a tractor-trailer tailgating another vehicle. When the driver of the semi was pulled over, police... more »

• Traffic Stop Leads to the Arrest of Elsa Man Play Video

  August 17, 2019 3:24 PM

  ELSA- An Elsa man is behind bars after a traffic stop turned into a drug bust. Victor Rodriguez is charged with manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. Elsa police say when they pulled him over early Thursday morning, they found cocaine in his possession. Rodriguez's is... more »

• Drug Bust Leads to Two Arrests in Starr County Play Video

  April 27, 2019 5:06 PM

  STARR COUNTY- Two men are behind bars following a drug bust in Starr County. Two separate warrants were served Friday in Los Trevinos. At the scene, authorities found cocaine. The Rio Grande City Police Department assisted. The men were charged with manufacture and delivery of a... more »

• CBP Seizes $175,000 Worth of Alleged Cocaine at 2 International Bridges

  March 22, 2019 1:23 PM

  HIDALGO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized $175,000 worth of cocaine at the Hidalgo and Anzalduas International Bridges. On Thursday, CBP officers working at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge referred a Ford Crown Victoria, driven by a 27-year-old Mexican citizen, for further inspection. This resulted in the discovery... more »

• CBP Arrest 2 in Separate Drug Smuggling Incidents at Port of Entry

  March 22, 2019 10:17 AM

  PHARR – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers made two arrests in separate drug smuggling incidents. CBP seized a total of $340,000 worth of cocaine at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge. On Tuesday, officials encountered a 25-year-old American woman arriving from Mexico. During a secondary inspection, CBP officers... more »

• CBP Arrest Man Attempting to Smuggle Nearly $200K Worth of Cocaine

  March 11, 2019 9:59 AM

  PHARR – Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a man attempting to smuggle nearly $200,000 worth of cocaine. The 30-year-old Reynosa man was stopped at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge last Thursday. Ten packages of the drug were discovered within the man’s vehicle during a secondary inspection. CBP... more »

• Border Patrol Seizes More Than $650K Worth of Cocaine at Checkpoints

  February 25, 2019 1:06 PM

  FALFURRIAS – Border Patrol agents seized over $650,000 worth of cocaine at the immigration checkpoints. Agents working at the Falfurrias checkpoint seized four bundles worth about $282,000 on Thursday. The driver and passenger were arrested. Agents working the Sarita checkpoint in Kingsville seized five bundles worth about $378,000... more »

• Drug Seizure Considered Largest in Alamo Police Department's History

  February 7, 2019 5:06 PM

  ALAMO – A drug bust is being considered the largest in the Alamo Police Department’s history. A picture shared by the department shows hundreds of wrapped packages concealed in an 18-wheeler. The driver was 32-year-old Jonathan Antonio Amendariz Martinez. He was arraigned Thursday afternoon on two counts... more »

• Local CBP Officers Work Diligently Despite Gov't Shutdown Play Video

  January 29, 2019 6:44 PM

  WESALCO – Despite the government shutdown, the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol worked diligently. Customs and Border Protection officials say agents seized more than 120 pounds of cocaine, 108 pounds of methamphetamine, and more than 300 boxes of steroids. Agents also arrested 32 people with outstanding warrants and... more »

• Hundreds of Pounds of Cocaine Seized in Rio Grande City Play Video

  January 17, 2019 4:45 PM

  WESLACO – Border Patrol agents seized hundreds of pounds of cocaine in Rio Grande City Thursday afternoon. The agents were seen on video pulling an off-road vehicle, which was involved in the incident, from the river. Acting Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz says 700 pounds of cocaine came... more »

• McAllen ISD Teacher Arrested for Role in Drug Trafficking Ring Play Video

  February 1, 2018 11:33 AM

  MCALLEN – A teacher was arrested this week for his role in a cocaine trafficking ring. He also admitted to working for a Mexican drug trafficking organization. Jorge Ignacio Cavazos was a teacher with the McAllen Independent School District at the time of his arrest. He’s on administrative leave as... more »

• Man Sent to Prison for Role in Drug Distribution Involving Brownsville

  December 13, 2017 5:07 PM

  BROWNSVILLE – A 28-year-old Pasadena man will spend a decade in jail for his role in a cocaine distribution scheme involving the Rio Grande Valley. Victor Hugo Hernandez was sent to prison for orchestrating the delivery of drugs around the U.S., including Brownsville. According to a press release by the... more »

• Former Local Police Chief Facing Drug Charges, Arraignment Set Play Video

  August 14, 2017 10:34 AM

  UPDATE(7/15): Sentencing for former La Joya police chief Geovani Hernandez is set for Tuesday. ----- UPDATE (8/18): A former La Joya police chief facing drug charges was granted bond. A judge set Geovani Hernandez's bond at $100,000 despite prosecutors saying he is a flight risk. Count... more »