A Mexican woman who claimed to be traveling to Houston for a Grupo Firme concert had over 250 pounds of meth inside her vehicle’s gas tank Saturday, according to a criminal complaint.
Ana Garza-Longoria was charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to the affidavit, Garza-Longoria drove to the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint in a silver Ford Expedition at approximately 12:15 p.m. on Sept. 3.
She identified herself to agents as a Mexican citizen and said she was going to spend the weekend in Houston with her cousin who had won two tickets to a Grupo Firme concert and had invited Garza-Longoria to attend, the affidavit said.
When asked if she could present the incoming call her cousin made to her, Garza-Longoria said she couldn’t because her cousin had called her sister’s cell phone to invite her, the complaint said.
According to the affidavit, agents found only one change of clothes after searching her suitcase once she gave consent and they questioned her about a Grupo Firme T-shirt that hung on the handle above her back window.
“She stated she did not want the t-shirt to get wrinkled,” the complaint said.
Agents then asked Garza-Longoria if she would give consent to have her vehicle x-rayed and she gave them permission, the document said.
That’s when agents found anomalies inside the Expedition’s gas tank which prompted them to remove the car part from the vehicle in order to test its contents, according to the affidavit.
The results returned a positive for methamphetamine.
“The gas tank and its contents had an approximate weight of [251 pounds],” the complaint said.
During questioning, Garza-Longoria told agents the vehicle had been loaded with drugs in Mexico and that she was to be paid $8,000 to transport the drugs to an area near Dallas.
According to court documents, Garza-Longoria was set to appear before Magistrate Judge Jason B. Libby Tuesday morning.
