SAN ANTONIO — The leader of a drug organization based in Coahuila, Mexico, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison Tuesday for his role in various smuggling schemes involving drugs, firearms and people.

Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation.

The sentence for Pedro Gama-Alvarez, 40, from Mexico City, also known as “Güero” and “El Lobo,” is to be followed by five years of supervised release. Gama-Alvarez is not a U.S. citizen and is expected to be placed in deportation proceedings after he completes his prison sentence.

He pleaded guilty Feb. 27, 2019, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. By pleading guilty, he admitted that from February 2011 to September 2012, he was responsible for the smuggling of more than 16 kilograms of cocaine and over 2,600 kilograms of marijuana into the United States.

“This sentence represents the seriousness of these crimes and is an appropriate punishment for Pedro Gama-Alvarez for his role in a major drug trafficking organization, which had a damaging impact in our communities,” said Shane Folden, special agent in charge for HSI San Antonio. “HSI will continue to utilize its broad authorities to dismantle criminal organizations that blatantly ignore the laws of this nation.”

Gama-Alvarez has remained in federal custody since his arrest Sept. 1, 2018, near Eagle Pass, Texas. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility in the near future.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Spears, Western District of Texas, prosecuted this case.