Mexican man pleads guilty to drug smuggling charges in Penticton

PENTICTON – A Mexican man is facing several years in prison following guilty pleas entered in Penticton Provincial Court today.

Alexis Joel Garcia Palomino pled guilty to smuggling heroin and methamphetamine into Canada, in addition to charges of entering Canada illegally.

The charges stem from a March 17, 2016 incident when Palomino was arrested by Canadian authorities as he attempted to cross the border near Osoyoos with a back pack laden with cocaine and methamphetamine.

Palomino, who speaks little English, appeared in court via video link, with an interpreter providing two way translation by telephone.

Defence lawyer Robert Maxwell told court he understood Crown would be seeking up to four years imprisonment on the charges, adding he would be “looking for something different.”

Maxwell said his client wrote a letter for distribution to Crown and the Mexican Embassy, outlining the reasons why Palomino “was compelled to do this by the cartel.”

Maxwell also sought a pre-sentence report on Palomino, who is in his early 30s and has no prior criminal record.

The lawyer would not comment on the length of sentence he would request, saying he would wait for the results of the pre-sentence report.

Palomino’s next court date is Oct. 26.

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