Truck driver sentenced to 14 years after $3 million in drugs found in truck hauling wine

A Texas truck driver was issued a long prison sentence after Michigan police discovered hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine, and Fentanyl concealed in his vehicle.

On September 28, truck driver Roque Carranza-Alvarado, 28, formerly of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced to 14 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

In March 2022, Carranza-Alvarado pleaded guilty to three counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Authorities say that on June 13, 2021, Carranza-Alvarado was stopped by Michigan State Police near Marma driving a truck loaded with 1,100 cases of wine from California to be delivered in Roseville, Michigan.

A drug sniffing dog alerted to the truck and police discovered 286 pounds of methamphetamine, 60 pounds of a fentanyl analogue, 60 pounds of cocaine in the vehicle. Police also found 800 grams of crack cocaine and $11,000 in cash in the cab of Carranza-Alvarado’s truck.

The estimated street value of the seized drugs is between $3 million and $4 million, according to authorities.

“Fentanyl and methamphetamine are poisoning our communities and killing our citizens.  We will aggressively pursue and prosecute those who are harming our communities with dangerous drugs,” stated U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison.

“This defendant was caught transporting a very significant amount of drugs that could have done untold damage to Michigan communities. DEA and our state, local and federal partners, will employ every resource available to hold individuals and organizations, who peddle poisons-for-profit, accountable,” said Special Agent Greene.