Pair in US illegally sentenced after 21 kilos of cocaine seized in I-65 Calera traffic stop
U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Johan Leandro Zapata-Valencia, 26, and Christian Yesid Lugo-Beltran, 26, each to 57 months – nearly five years - in prison.
Mason Reed 
Two Colombian nationals living in the U.S. illegally have been sentenced to federal prison following the seizure of 21 kilograms of cocaine during a traffic stop on I-65 in Shelby County, as reported by 205focus.com.
Sentencing Details
U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke handed down 57-month prison sentences to Johan Leandro Zapata-Valencia, 26, and Christian Yesid Lugo-Beltran, 26. Both men previously entered guilty pleas for possession with intent to distribute cocaine after being caught with the contraband.
Law Enforcement Action
The investigation began on February 7, 2025, when a Calera Police officer observed suspicious behavior at a local Chevron station. The pair left the Chevron without pumping gas, later proceeding to a Valero station across the street. The officer alerted a colleague stationed on Interstate 65, who eventually initiated a traffic stop around 8:30 p.m. for an inoperable tag light.
Neither man possessed a driver’s license, and they stated they were traveling from Los Angeles to Miami. A subsequent probable cause search of the vehicle revealed a suitcase hidden beneath a blanket in the trunk, containing 21 individually wrapped bricks of cocaine.
Official Commentary
Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Phil Williams praised the collaborative effort of local authorities. “This case represents the best of local law enforcement,” Williams said. “The officers saw something, followed up, and were ultimately able to get 21 kilograms of cocaine off our interstates.” He added that there is no place in the country for illegal aliens, particularly those involved in drug trafficking.
Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations for Georgia and Alabama, echoed these sentiments. “Twenty-one kilograms of cocaine is not just a number—it represents a significant threat to the safety and well-being of our communities,” Schrank noted.
The case was investigated by HSI, the Calera Police Department, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany T. Byrd and Olivia C. Brame.
