A former Guatemalan congressman has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, highlighting the ongoing challenges of political corruption and drug transit in Central America.
At a Glance
- Jose Armando Ubico Aguilar, 45, sentenced to 18 years for drug trafficking conspiracy
- Ubico Aguilar served in Guatemala’s Congress from 2016 to 2024
- He facilitated at least 450 kilograms of cocaine through Guatemala for U.S. distribution
- The case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation
- Sentencing underscores U.S. commitment to dismantling transnational criminal organizations
Former Congressman’s Fall from Grace
On February 11, 2025, U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale in Plano, Texas, handed down an 18-year prison sentence to Jose Armando Ubico Aguilar, a former Guatemalan congressman. Ubico Aguilar, who once held a position of trust and power in his home country, pleaded guilty to involvement in an international drug trafficking conspiracy that facilitated the movement of cocaine into the United States.
Ubico Aguilar’s political career, which spanned from 2016 to 2024, included chairing Guatemala’s National Defense Committee from 2018 to 2023. His fall from grace began with a federal grand jury indictment in Texas on March 3, 2021, for federal drug trafficking violations. The former congressman arrived in the U.S. in May 2024 and subsequently admitted his guilt during a plea hearing.
The Scale of the Operation
The extent of Ubico Aguilar’s involvement in drug trafficking is staggering. According to court documents, he facilitated the transport of at least 450 kilograms of cocaine through Guatemala intended for distribution in the United States. This massive quantity underscores the significant role that corrupt officials can play in the international drug trade.
“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,” Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. said.
Ubico Aguilar’s case sheds light on the broader issue of narcotics trafficking in Guatemala, a country that has long been noted as a transit point for illegal drugs bound for the U.S. The lack of robust law enforcement and the presence of institutional corruption have allowed such criminal activities to thrive.
A Coordinated Effort to Combat Transnational Crime
The case against Ubico Aguilar was part of a larger operation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations. This coordinated effort involved multiple agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, and Customs and Border Protection.
“I am grateful to our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to ensure that Ubico Aguilar will no longer be allowed to hide behind his position of power,” Acting U.S. Attorney McGlothin, Jr., said.
The successful prosecution of Ubico Aguilar, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Eason, sends a strong message to transnational criminal organizations worldwide. It demonstrates the resolve of U.S. law enforcement to partner with international counterparts in the fight against drug trafficking and public corruption.
