Ex-Guatemalan Politician’s Texas Drug Conspiracy Sentence Revealed

Wooden blocks spell out "GUILTY" on wood background.

A former Guatemalan congressman has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, highlighting the ongoing battle against corruption and transnational criminal organizations.

Quick Takes

Jose Armando Ubico Aguilar, 45, pleaded guilty to facilitating cocaine shipments into the U.S.
Ubico Aguilar served in Guatemala’s Congress from 2016 to 2024 and chaired the National Defense Committee.
He was involved in moving at least 450 kilograms of cocaine through Guatemala for U.S. distribution.
The case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.
Guatemala remains a key transit country for illegal drugs destined for the U.S.

Former Guatemalan Congressman Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale in Plano, Texas, sentenced Jose Armando Ubico Aguilar to 18 years in federal prison for his involvement in an international drug trafficking conspiracy. Ubico Aguilar, a former congressman from Guatemala, used his official position to facilitate the movement of significant cocaine loads into the United States, betraying his country and its people.

A Guatemalan man who served in that country’s Congress will now serve 18 years in U.S. federal prison for his role in an international drug trafficking conspiracy.

Jose Armando Ubico Aguilar, 45, pleaded guilty to being involved in an international drug trafficking conspiracy… pic.twitter.com/fXw37LtWq2

— Qᴀɢɢ.ɴᴇᴡꜱ (@qaggnews) February 20, 2025

The 45-year-old Ubico Aguilar served in the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala from 2016 to 2024 and chaired the National Defense Committee from 2018 to 2023. His fall from grace began when he was indicted by a federal grand jury in Texas on March 3, 2021, for federal drug trafficking violations. In May 2024, Ubico Aguilar arrived in the United States and subsequently admitted guilt during a plea hearing.

Betrayal of Public Trust and International Cooperation

The case against Ubico Aguilar highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in combating transnational criminal organizations. Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin Jr. emphasized the significance of this conviction, stating the commitment to dismantling such organizations and bringing corrupt officials to justice going on to say “The sentencing of this corrupt Guatemalan official who brokered and facilitated cocaine shipments into the United States while betraying his country through his partnerships with known drug traffickers and other corrupt officials shows the commitment of the Eastern District of Texas United States Attorney’s Office to identify, disrupt, and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations.”

The investigation and subsequent prosecution of Ubico Aguilar were the result of a coordinated effort by multiple agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, and Customs and Border Protection. This collaborative approach demonstrates the United States’ commitment to working with international partners to combat drug trafficking and related crimes.

Guatemala’s Role in Drug Trafficking

Ubico Aguilar’s case sheds light on Guatemala’s ongoing struggle with drug trafficking and institutional corruption. The Central American nation has long been recognized as a key transit country for illegal drugs destined for the United States. The lack of robust law enforcement and widespread corruption within government institutions have allowed narcotics trafficking to thrive, making Guatemala a crucial link in the drug supply chain. “The sentencing of this corrupt official who brokered and facilitated cocaine shipments into the United States sends a message to Transnational Criminal Organizations across the world that they will be held responsible for the poison they distribute into the United States. This sentence reflects our continued resolve to partner with our international law-enforcement counterparts to fight greed, violence, and public corruption” stated Dallas DEA Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chávez.

The conviction of Ubico Aguilar serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive influence of drug cartels in Guatemala’s political sphere. His position as a congressman and chair of the National Defense Committee provided him with the means to facilitate the movement of at least 450 kilograms of cocaine through Guatemala for distribution in the United States. This case underscores the need for continued vigilance and international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and corruption in Central America.