A California man was sentenced Thursday in federal court to 16 months in prison and ordered to forfeit $12,710 for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle and distribute over $3 million worth of Mexican pesticides and veterinary drugs not approved for use in the United States.
“A secure border is vital to ensuring the health and safety of Americans,” stated Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting those who violate our environmental and customs laws and jeopardize the health and safety of our citizens.”
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U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California echoed this sentiment, saying, “Bringing in and selling pesticides and veterinary drugs illegally puts both people and the environment at risk. These unregulated products can be harmful to animals, insects, and humans. Our office is committed to holding accountable anyone who chooses profit over public safety.”
Court documents and evidence revealed that Ruben Montes, of Calexico, California, orchestrated the smuggling of these unapproved substances from Mexico into the United States starting in 2020. The primary pesticides involved were Taktic and Bovitraz, neither of which are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use domestically. The smuggled veterinary drugs included Tylocet, Terramicina, Tetragent Ares, and Catarrol, all lacking approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States.
Montes directed his co-conspirators to transport these prohibited pesticides and veterinary drugs, unavailable for legal purchase in the U.S., across the border from Mexico without proper declaration. Subsequently, Montes and his associates concealed the contraband in storage units within Calexico, from where they were retrieved for distribution throughout the country.
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Notably, Montes and a co-defendant, identified as Gutierrez and currently at large, were the primary suppliers of these illicit substances to individuals charged in a separate case, United States v. Toledo, et. al. Montes also shipped approximately 150 packages of the unapproved products to another co-conspirator located in Texas.
The EPA has highlighted the significant risks associated with the smuggled pesticides. The active ingredient in Taktic and Bovitraz, amitraz, is known to be toxic to bees upon release into hives, posing a threat to honey, honeycomb, and beeswax, and consequently, to human consumers.
The agency warns that misuse of amitraz-containing products in beehives can lead to exposures causing neurological and potential reproductive effects in humans who consume contaminated honey.
Neurotoxicity signs linked to amitraz exposure have been observed in various animal species, including central nervous system depression, decreased pulse rate, and hypothermia.
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