An Albuquerque man has been sentenced to life in prison for his leadership role in a transnational criminal organization linked to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel.
Alex Barraza, 36, also known as “Smiley,” headed the Barraza Drug Trafficking Organization, which was involved in importing methamphetamine from Mexico for distribution in Albuquerque, according to the Department of Justice.
Officials revealed that Barraza’s crew smuggled an estimated 720 kilograms of drugs into the United States and transported approximately $1.7 million into Mexico.
Barraza was arrested on April 9, 2021, and pleaded guilty in 2022 to multiple charges, including conspiracy to import 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, murder related to the use of firearms during a drug trafficking crime, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
