Feds arrest felon illegal immigrant after seizing tens of millions in meth stashed in blackberries

An amerciable migrant from Mexico, who antecedently served astir 2 decades successful national prison, was indicted Tuesday aft allegedly conspiring to determination tens of millions of dollars worthy of methamphetamine successful the Atlanta area, starring authorities to prehend astir 1,600 pounds of the stimulant cause hidden successful blackberry shipments.

Gerardo Solorio-Alvarado, 44, of Mexico, is charged with conspiracy and possession with the intent to administer methamphetamine. 

He antecedently served 17 years successful situation aft being convicted of felony possession with the intent to administer methamphetamine and possession of a weapon successful a cause trafficking crime.

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Gerardo Solorio-Alvarado, 44, of Mexico, is charged with conspiracy and possession with the intent to administer methamphetamine. (FOX 5 Atlanta)

Officials announced the arrests Wednesday successful Georgia, showing disconnected a monolithic magnitude of methamphetamine.  (@FBIAtlanta via X)

His alleged accomplice, Nelson Enrique Sorto, 36, of Atlanta, is charged with possession with the intent to administer methamphetamine. He is presently connected probation aft being convicted successful 2024 of felony possession of methamphetamine.

While staking retired a acold retention warehouse successful Fulton County connected Nov. 20, national agents and Hall County sheriff's deputies saw 3 refrigerated container trucks parked outside. 

They followed 1 of the trucks to a state presumption successful Gainesville and watched arsenic Solorio-Alvarado picked up the operator and near the abandoned container motortruck astatine the state station, according to officials.

The drugs were allegedly recovered successful container trucks transporting blackberries, according to officials. (@FBIAtlanta via X)

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After a K9 alerted to the odor of narcotics, agents searched the motortruck and recovered astir 661 pounds of methamphetamine hidden among pallets of blackberries. 

Solorio-Alvarado was aboriginal arrested portion trying to fly retired of the backmost of his Gainesville home, according to authorities. Inside the house, deputies recovered keys to the abandoned truck.

At the aforesaid time, different squad of agents followed a 2nd container motortruck arsenic it traveled successful tandem with an SUV, allegedly driven by Sorto, to a location successful southeast Atlanta.

The 2 men arrested were antecedently convicted of drug-related offenses, according to authorities. (@FBIAtlanta via X)

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Shortly aft midnight, Sorto near successful the SUV with 2 passengers and Georgia State Patrol troopers stopped them, uncovering 2 guns and respective containers of blackberries successful the SUV, officials said.

During a consequent hunt of the container motortruck parked extracurricular the Atlanta home, Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents, assisted by the FBI, recovered astir 924 pounds of methamphetamine concealed successful pallets of blackberries. 

Combined, the 2 seizures amounted to 1,585 pounds of methamphetamine.

Officials said the ample magnitude of meth was worthy tens of millions of dollars. (@FBIAtlanta via X)

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During a quality league connected Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg said the 2 seizures amounted to 1,585 pounds of methamphetamine, worthy tens of millions of dollars.

"Solorio-Alvarado was convicted successful national tribunal for cause trafficking and possessing a firearm successful furtherance of cause trafficking, and helium served astir 2 decades successful national situation for those offenses. He was then, and helium remains, an amerciable alien, unlawfully contiguous successful the United States," Hertzberg said. "We've seen the cartels run this mode before… we person seen monolithic methamphetamine seizures of drugs that were smuggled successful with cucumbers, celery oregon jalapeño peppers. And present … blackberries."

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Both men stay successful authorities custody, but volition beryllium transferred to the U.S. Marshals Service.

After appearing successful national court, Hertzberg said his bureau volition determination for them to beryllium held without bail until their cases person been resolved.

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Solorio-Alvarado faces astatine slightest 15 years successful situation due to the fact that of his transgression history, and Sorto faces astatine slightest 10 years successful prison. The maximum sentences are beingness successful situation without parole.

The prosecutions are also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) inaugural established by President Donald Trump's Jan. 20 enforcement bid "Protecting the American People Against Invasion."