A Mexican national, Manuel Valenzuela, 35, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to his involvement in a human smuggling operation. Prosecutors stated that the operation used THC-laced candy to sedate children, some as young as five years old, before bringing them into the United States from Mexico.
According to court documents, Valenzuela pleaded guilty in November to 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. He was one of four individuals charged in connection with the scheme, which allegedly involved transporting unaccompanied children between the ages of 5 and 13. The smugglers reportedly presented fraudulent U.S. identification documents to border officials, falsely claiming the children were their own.
Federal prosecutors reported that one child experienced THC poisoning and required hospitalization after being administered the drug-laced candy during one of the smuggling attempts. The children were subsequently transported to El Paso, Texas, after crossing the border.
The smuggling activities are alleged to have occurred between May 1 and October 18, 2024. During the investigation, proof-of-life photographs of some of the children were found on the suspects' cellphones. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division condemned the tactics, stating that the need to sedate children with THC under the guise of candy highlights the heinous nature of such crimes. He emphasized that the Criminal Division and its law enforcement partners are committed to stopping this conduct, asserting that protecting children and border security are intertwined.
Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan McRae of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso characterized the use of children in smuggling operations as demonstrating a "total disregard for human life and safety." McRae added that using THC-infused candy to facilitate the smuggling of children is reprehensible and cruel, putting vulnerable minors at serious risk. HSI intends to relentlessly pursue and bring to justice the transnational criminal organizations responsible for these tactics.