World

US Marine Gets 12 Years For Cross-Border Drug Smuggling

A former Marine who for years helped smuggle drugs from Mexico into the United States and even tried to get a song written to glorify his exploits was sentenced Friday to 12 years in federal prison.

Roberto Salazar II, 26, of San Diego was sentenced for importing fentanyl and for conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, according to a statement from the US attorney’s office.

Salazar, who pleaded guilty last October, could have faced up to life in prison.

He was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. Prosecutors said that before joining the corps and while on active duty, he and the couriers he recruited made dozens of smuggling trips across the border.

Salazar would obtain cars that were driven to Mexico, where drugs were loaded into the engine compartments. Couriers would then drive them back across the border into the US, prosecutors said.

Also read: Judge Dismissive Of Trump’s Reasons To Skip New York Rape Trial

The scheme began around 2015, authorities said.

By the time of his arrest last year, “Salazar had become so involved in drug trafficking that he was commissioning a Mexican songwriter to write a drug ballad known as a ‘narcocorrido about him”, the US attorney’s office said.

“In one line that Salazar suggested to the songwriter, he boasted: I wanted to study and became a soldier, but I liked the fast life better,’” the office said.

Some of the couriers recruited by Salazar were former Marines or classmates at Southwestern College in Chula Vista.

“This case involved a Marine who was supposed to protect and defend our country, but instead brought great harm to Americans by trafficking fentanyl and other dangerous drugs,” US Attorney Randy Grossman said. “He also betrayed his solemn oath by recruiting other Marines to do the same.”

Also read: “As Ramadan Comes To an end, I Would Like To Send My Warmest Wishes To Muslims As They Mark Eid al Fitr,” Says Rishi Sunak

Shruti Chaturvedi

Recent Posts

Maharashtra Language Row: MNS Workers Detained During The Counter-Protest; ‘Threatened To Learn Marathi Or Face’

Several workers of Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena (MNS) were detained this morning in…

16 mins ago

Adani Group’s ‘Hum Karke Dikhate Hain’ Campaign Highlights India’s Green Energy Revolution

Gautam Adani shares a video highlighting Adani Group’s solar push in Khavda, Gujarat, and its…

1 hour ago

‘People-Centric & Humanity First’: PM Modi Outlines India’s Vision As BRICS Chair For 2026

At the 17th BRICS Summit in Brazil, PM Modi outlined India’s agenda as it prepares…

2 hours ago

Jio BlackRock Asset Management Raises ₹17,800 Crore In Debut NFO

Jio BlackRock Asset Management Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between JFS & BlackRock Inc has…

3 hours ago

Adani Power Completes Acquisition Of 600 MW Vidarbha Plan; Operational Capacity Rises To 18,150 MW

Adani Power Ltd has completed the acquisition of Vidarbha Industries Power Ltd for ₹4,000 crore,…

3 hours ago

Stock Market Trades Higher Ahead Of India-US Trade Deal

On Tuesday morning, India’s stock markets showed modest gains, driven by optimism around a potential…

4 hours ago