A West Texas woman who authorities say ferried massive loads of fentanyl through the Del Rio Port of Entry has been ordered to spend 24 years in federal prison.
Prosecutors say 28-year-old Anahi Sanchez of Big Lake was stopped at the border in April 2022 in a Chevrolet Camaro, a routine inspection that turned into a major drug bust and, eventually, a conspiracy case tying her to roughly 130 kilograms of fentanyl. A federal judge in Del Rio sentenced her Wednesday to 288 months behind bars.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas, Sanchez pulled up to the Del Rio Port of Entry on April 4, 2022, driving a Camaro with her son in the car. She told a CBP officer they were heading back to Big Lake after visiting family in Mexico.
That story did not survive a closer look. A canine alerted to the vehicle, and a secondary inspection turned up a hidden compartment near the rear wheel wells. Inside, officers found 30 packages tucked behind a trap door, all of which tested positive for fentanyl, the office said. The load weighed in at about 18 kilograms.
Sanchez was later indicted on five counts and ultimately pleaded guilty on Dec. 16, 2022 to a single count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. As part of the case, federal authorities held her responsible for approximately 130 kilograms of the drug tied to the broader trafficking operation.
HSI Del Rio was singled out in a post by HSI San Antonio, which said the Homeland Security Task Force investigation “demonstrates our unwavering commitment to bringing drug traffickers to justice & keeping the public safe.” The social media post linked back to the U.S. Attorney's announcement and underscored the joint work behind the case.
How investigators say the case unfolded
Prosecutors described Sanchez as a “regular and trusted courier” for a transnational criminal organization, saying she made repeated crossings in vehicles loaded with narcotics. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, many of those loads were routed to the Dallas-Fort Worth area as part of the larger smuggling pipeline.
Officials say the 24-year sentence is one of the latest outcomes from the Homeland Security Task Force operating in the region, an effort that pairs Homeland Security Investigations with partners including the FBI, DEA, U.S. Border Patrol and state law enforcement agencies.
Legal note
Sanchez's December 2022 guilty plea to the conspiracy charge left her sentence in the hands of the federal court, which imposed 288 months in prison. Federal prosecutors say cases involving large quantities of fentanyl routinely bring multi-decade sentences, along with lengthy terms of supervised release and potential forfeiture of criminal proceeds.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner prosecuted the case. HSI and CBP were listed as the primary investigative agencies, and officials said the Homeland Security Task Force will keep targeting couriers and other operatives who move large quantities of fentanyl through ports of entry.
