McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — A leader of the Cartel del Noreste who smuggled drugs into the South Texas border town of Laredo has been sentenced to 16 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Gavino Cadena, 37, must serve 194 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised released after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute large quantities of marijuana into the United States, U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei said.
Prosecutors say Cadena had an “extensive criminal record” including membership with the Cartel del Noreste and the Tango Blast gang.
In custody since 2022, prosecutors say since Cadena has been involved in numerous altercations involving weapons with rival gangs, including the Hermano Pistoleros Latinos.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana handed down the sentence. Saldana found Cadena to be an organizer in the Mexican drug cartel and he “coordinated the drug loads, paid co-conspirators for their involvement and reported directly to cartel leaders in Mexico,” according to a news release by Ganjei’s office.
“The Department of Justice is going to use all available avenues to crack down on cartel activity operating inside our country,” Ganjei said. “The drug trade inevitably leads to violence, and so every drug dealer or cartel member taken off the street makes our communities a little bit safer.”
His arrest was part of a multi-year investigation that included two other related indictments and the seizure of more than 17 tons of marijuana valued at over $16 million.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
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