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.
Ethan Parker 
Two Colombian nationals living in the U.S. illegally have been handed federal prison sentences after a major drug bust on Interstate 65 in Shelby County, where authorities seized 21 kilograms of cocaine, according to reporting from 205focus.com.
Sentencing and Conviction
U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced both Johan Leandro Zapata-Valencia, 26, and Christian Yesid Lugo-Beltran, 26, to 57 months in federal prison. The pair previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine following their arrest in February 2025.
The Traffic Stop
The investigation began on February 7, 2025, when a Calera police officer on routine patrol spotted the two men acting suspiciously at a Chevron station. After the pair noticed the patrol vehicle, they abandoned their attempt to refuel and moved across the street to a Valero station.
Alerted to the behavior, another Calera officer positioned on I-65 pulled the suspects over around 8:30 p.m. for an inoperable tag light. When asked for identification, neither man possessed a valid driver's license, and they stated they were traveling from Los Angeles to Miami.
A subsequent probable cause search of their vehicle revealed a suitcase hidden beneath a blanket in the trunk. Inside, officers discovered 21 individually wrapped bricks of cocaine.
Law Enforcement Response
Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Phil Williams praised the inter-agency effort, stating, "This case represents the best of local law enforcement. The officers saw something, followed up, and were ultimately able to get 21 kilograms of cocaine off our interstates."
Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations for Alabama and Georgia, emphasized the impact of the seizure: "Twenty-one kilograms of cocaine is not just a number—it represents a significant threat to the safety and well-being of our communities."
The case was investigated by the Calera Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany T. Byrd and Olivia C. Brame.
