A spare tire packed with methamphetamine set off a chain of events that ended with a high-speed chase and a multi-vehicle crash on San Antonio’s Southeast Side, federal and state officials said. Three men were arrested after the tire was flagged at the Eagle Pass port of entry, and investigators say they pulled 24 packages from inside it. The pursuit crossed I-10 and other busy corridors before ending near Pecan Valley Drive and East Southcross Boulevard, and although the wreck looked rough, authorities said no serious injuries were reported. The driver bolted from the crashed car but did not get far. Customs and Homeland Security investigators worked the case alongside the Texas Department of Public Safety in what officials describe as a coordinated sweep.
Border Agents Flagged The Vehicle At Eagle Pass
According to KENS 5, Customs and Border Protection officers at the Eagle Pass port of entry referred a white Ford F-250 for secondary inspection on Feb. 12 after noticing anomalies with the vehicle. Federal documents cited by the outlet state that agents ultimately found contraband hidden in the spare tire. Those same filings say the stop is tied to a larger smuggling setup that allegedly moved loads from Eagle Pass into San Antonio, with the three suspects now staring down federal charges.
Troopers Pursue Driver Across The City
On the San Antonio side, troopers with the Homeland Security Task Force San Antonio spotted a Dodge Charger near Old Seguin Road and Gibbs Sprawl Road, then followed it through the East Side, onto I-10, and along W.W. White Road. The chase lasted around 20 minutes before ending in a collision at Pecan Valley Drive and East Southcross Boulevard, where the Charger crashed into a Dodge Ram and a Tesla, authorities said, as reported by KSAT.
Crash, Arrest And Custody
Helicopter footage and still photos captured the Charger slamming into the two vehicles, then the driver jumping out and trying to escape on foot. Troopers quickly closed in and detained him at gunpoint. The San Antonio Express-News reports that both of the other drivers involved in the crash were offered medical attention. Federal investigators described the arrests as part of a joint narcotics enforcement operation that linked the Eagle Pass discovery to the San Antonio pursuit.
Federal Filings Identify Suspects And Alleged Payments
Federal documents obtained by KENS 5 identify the three men in custody as Maurcet Derick Ruiz-Zuniga, Edgar Garza Jr. and Edward Viesca. Investigators say they removed 24 packages of methamphetamine from the spare tire. The filings quote Viesca telling agents he was paid $4,000 to deliver the tire, Garza saying he received “thousands,” and Ruiz-Zuniga admitting he was paid about $500 per run and that he had made roughly 10 similar deliveries over the last year.
Smuggling Method Has Precedent
Law enforcement officials say hiding narcotics in spare tires or custom compartments is a familiar tactic at ports of entry and along major highways. A 2020 press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office detailed a separate case in which meth was stashed in a spare tire and ultimately led to federal prison time, a reminder that secondary inspections and scanning technology can unravel what might look like routine vehicle traffic.
Charges And Next Steps
According to federal filings, the three men now face drug trafficking charges, and the investigation is still active as agents sort through evidence and chase additional leads. Court dockets did not immediately show formal public filings, and prosecutors will make the next moves on charging decisions and detention while investigators continue building the case.
What To Watch
Officials say the investigation highlights how border inspections and highway patrol work can link up to stop narcotics loads before they reach neighborhoods. We will keep an eye on court records and any further statements from agencies and will update this story as more official documents or details become available.
