San Benito Man Sentenced for Major Cocaine Trafficking Role and Ties to Gulf Cartel

A 42-year-old San Benito man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his involvement in a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation connected to the Mexican Gulf Cartel, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Salvador Cortez-Nava, also known as “Chava,” pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine on August 24, 2023. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera sentenced him to 120 months of incarceration, followed by five years of supervised release.

Cortez-Nava played a pivotal role in coordinating the distribution of cocaine across multiple states, including Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Georgia, Florida, and Indiana. During the investigation, authorities seized over $1.5 million in drug proceeds and approximately 150 kilograms of cocaine.

“The Mexican Gulf Cartel is one of Mexico’s oldest criminal syndicates, engaging in drug trafficking, violence, human smuggling, and more, reflecting the complex challenges posed by the cartels along Texas’s border with Mexico,” said Hamdani. “Salvador Cortez-Nava, aka Chava, demonstrated his allegiance to this cartel by coordinating the distribution of cocaine and employing ruthless tactics, including ordering kidnappings and threats of violence. His actions underscored the perilous influence of the cartel as he transported drug proceeds back into Mexico. By sending Cortez-Nava to prison, justice delivers another blow against the Gulf Cartel’s violent hold on the narcotics trade.”

“The hard work of our agents leading up to this victory demonstrates Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) unique authorities and expertise in financial investigations to combat organized crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of HSI – San Antonio. “Through a multi-agency task force, we uncovered over $1.5 million in drug proceeds and seized more than 150 kilograms of cocaine; this amount of poison has no place in our country.”

“The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) aggressive enforcement continues to hurt the drug trafficking business by shutting down Cortez-Nava’s significant cocaine trafficking network,” said Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division Daniel C. Comeaux. “Regardless of the rank or the level of sophistication used to traffic drugs and money, the DEA has always been able to disassemble the structure these drug cartels have in place to move poison into American communities and successfully eradicate the threat.”

Cortez-Nava’s network used sophisticated methods to smuggle cocaine from Matamoros, Mexico, into the U.S. via vehicles with hidden compartments at ports of entry. He also managed the recruitment of individuals to carry out smuggling operations. A multi-agency task force traced his involvement in drug and cash seizures from 2016 to 2020.

During the investigation, authorities seized over $1.5 million in proceeds and approximately 150 kilograms of cocaine. In addition to the drugs, authorities also seized $501,145 in drug proceeds in 2016, 1.10 kilograms of cocaine in 2017, and additional cocaine and money over subsequent years.

As part of his guilty plea, Cortez-Nava agreed to forfeit several properties, a vehicle, two firearms, and various jewelry, watches, and other items.

Cortez-Nava will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

The investigation was conducted by HSI and DEA with assistance from the Brownsville Police Department and Customs and Border Protection.