Walter Alejandro Hedrera, an Ecuadorian national, was sentenced to 108 months in prison for smuggling approximately 1,092 kilograms of cocaine through the Pacific Ocean. The sentence was handed down by United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer on October 22, 2025, following Hedrera’s guilty plea.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on September 24, 2024. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter from the Cutter MUNRO identified a suspicious vessel in international waters about 160 nautical miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico. The boat showed no signs of nationality and was moving quickly through an area known for drug trafficking with suspect packages visible on deck.
Attempts by the Coast Guard helicopter to stop the vessel with warning shots were unsuccessful. The crew then used disabling fire to stop the engines. Video evidence recorded smugglers throwing packages overboard after their boat was disabled.
Upon boarding the vessel later, Coast Guard personnel retrieved 24 bales from the surrounding water. These bales contained about 1,092 kilograms of cocaine.
Hedrera and four others were detained and brought to the United States under prosecution via the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act. Due to its lack of suitable tow points and distance from land, authorities sank the vessel after completing law enforcement actions.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama announced the sentencing: “U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.”
The investigation involved both the United States Coast Guard and Homeland Security Investigations under the Department of Homeland Security.
Assistant United States Attorney George F. May led prosecution efforts for this case.
This operation is part of Operation Take Back America, which combines resources from federal agencies such as OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhoods to target illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations while working to protect communities from violent crime.
