LAREDO, TX — An alleged leader of Los Zetas, a violent Mexican drug cartel, was charged with 
conspiracy to possess marijuana after illegally entering the United States in a boat with another alleged drug dealer, officials said.
The 27-year-old Jose Manuel Saldivar-Farias aka “Z-31” or “El Borrado” is alleged to be a regional commander for the Los Zetas transnational criminal organization, according to authorities.
Initially arrested on immigration charges related to his illegal presence in the U.S., a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday charging him and Osiel Hernandez-Martinez, 26, with conspiracy to possess more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana.
Salidvar-Farias is also charged with giving false statements to government agents.
According to criminal documents, these are the allegations:
- On the night of March 12, 2015, Texas Department of Public Safety or DPS Quick Reactionary Force, in conjunction with the Texas Air National Guard, were conducting fly-over operations over Falcon Lake.
- During that time, they observed a boat traveling northward into the U.S. from Mexico at a high rate of speed.
- Suspecting the individuals were undocumented foreign nationals attempting to enter the U.S. illegally, DPS-the Reactionary Force immediately apprehended the individuals aboard the boat, which included Saldivar-Farias and Hernandez-Martinez.
- Upon arrest, the criminal complaint alleges Saldivar-Farias lied to agents about his true identity.
- According to the criminal complaint, Saldivar-Farias is the regional commander of the northern region of Mexico to include the states of Coahuilla, Taumalipas and Nuevo Leon, Mexico, as well as Zapata, Texas.
- As such, he is allegedly in charge of all narcotics moving through the area.
- The criminal complaint alleges several multi-ton quantities of marijuana have been crossed into U.S. over this area every week.
If convicted on the drug charges, Saldivar-Farias and Hernandez-Martinez each face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a possible maximum fine of $10 million.
Saldivar-Farias also faces up to five years and a $250,000 fine if convicted of making false statements.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.