Mexican national sentenced in border child smuggling case involving THC-laced candy
Mexican Smuggler Sentenced to Five Years for Using THC‑Laced Candy to Transport Children Across the U.S.‑Mexico Border
A Mexican national has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for a role in a human‑smuggling operation that involved sedating unaccompanied children with THC‑laden candy before shipping them across the U.S.‑Mexico border. The defendant, 35‑year‑old Manuel Valenzuela, pleaded guilty last November and was sentenced Wednesday.
Valenzuela was one of four individuals charged last year in a scheme that allegedly moved children aged 5 to 13 from Juárez, Mexico, into the United States. Prosecutors say the children were lured into the smuggling ring by promises of a “sweet” treat. The candy, which contained tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), was used to sedate the children and ease their transport through the border. In one instance, a child suffered THC poisoning and required hospitalization after ingesting the drug‑laden confectionary.
“The use of children as a conduit for illegal entry and the deliberate administration of a psychoactive substance under the guise of candy is reprehensible,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “It underscores the lengths to which criminals will go to smuggle minors across our borders.”
According to court documents, the smuggling events took place between May 1 and October 18, 2024. The perpetrators presented U.S. identification documents to border officers while falsely claiming the children were their own parents. Once across the border, the children were transported to El Paso, Texas.
The case was brought by federal prosecutors and highlighted by the recovery of proof‑of‑life photographs of some of the children from the suspects’ cellphones. “Using children in smuggling operations shows a total disregard for human life and safety,” said Ryan McRae, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations unit in El Paso. “HSI will relentlessly pursue transnational criminal organizations responsible for these heinous tactics and bring them to justice.”
Valenzuela’s plea agreement 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. Prosecutors had charged him and three others with similar offenses. The five‑year sentence reflects the seriousness with which the federal system treats crimes that exploit vulnerable children.
The Justice Department’s Criminal Division reiterated its commitment to protecting children and maintaining secure borders. “Protecting children and keeping our borders safe go hand‑in‑hand,” Duva added. “The Criminal Division and our law‑enforcement partners will put an end to this conduct.”
The sentencing comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over cross‑border smuggling operations. The use of sedatives, especially THC, to incapacitate children raises significant concerns about child safety and the integrity of immigration procedures.
The U.S. and Mexico have long cooperated to curb human smuggling, but cases like Valenzuela’s underscore the evolving tactics of transnational criminal organizations. As federal prosecutors continue to dismantle these networks, authorities emphasize that the safety of unaccompanied minors remains a top priority.
In the wake of the sentencing, officials have called for increased resources to detect and dismantle such operations. The Justice Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are working together to strengthen screening procedures and improve intelligence sharing between the two countries.
