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Hazlehurst Man Convicted in Federal Court for Attempting to Receive Meth Shipment from Mexico Hidden in Horse Saddle

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Jury Finds Mexican National Guilty in Southern District of Georgia Trial

By Carol A. Gasser Moore

BRUNSWICK, Glynn County, Georgia – A federal jury in the Southern District of Georgia has convicted a 37-year-old Mexican national residing in Hazlehurst, Jeff Davis County, for attempting to possess and distribute over two kilograms of pure methamphetamine smuggled from Mexico.

Ismael Delgado-Celis, who was illegally living in Hazlehurst, was found guilty of Possession and Attempt to Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 grams or more of Methamphetamine after a multi-day trial. According to Acting U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons, the conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, with the possibility of life in federal prison. Under federal law, no parole is available.

Meth Hidden in Horse Saddle From Jalisco, Mexico

Federal agents testified that on September 12, 2024, Delgado-Celis was the intended recipient of a suspicious international package shipped from Jalisco, Mexico. The shipment was declared as a horse saddle, but law enforcement intercepted the package and discovered over two kilograms of 100% pure methamphetamine concealed inside the saddle’s lining.

Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) removed the narcotics and repackaged the saddle for a controlled delivery, disguising themselves as U.S. Postal Service employees. Delgado-Celis accepted the package at his Hazlehurst residence, unknowingly confirming his role in the operation. He was arrested shortly thereafter.

Federal Authorities Applaud Interagency Cooperation

Law enforcement leaders praised the conviction as a major step in disrupting a dangerous drug pipeline reaching into South Georgia communities:

“This case represents the continued commitment of the DEA to identify and hold accountable those who engage in the distribution of dangerous drugs,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Keeping our communities safe is our highest priority.”

“Thanks to the dedicated collaboration between HSI and our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local levels, we were able to disrupt a major methamphetamine trafficking operation,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Georgia and Alabama.

“This conviction highlights the critical role Customs and Border Protection plays in disrupting the transnational flow of deadly narcotics,” added Zachary Thomas, Acting Director of Field Operations for CBP Atlanta.

A Growing Challenge in Rural Georgia

Hazlehurst, located in Jeff Davis County, is one of several rural South Georgia communities increasingly impacted by methamphetamine trafficking and drug-related crimes. Law enforcement agencies in the region have noted a rise in drug smuggling operations that target smaller towns with limited resources.

This case serves as a warning that international drug cartels are actively seeking new routes and recipients across Georgia, including remote and rural areas that may not have the same surveillance capacities as urban centers.

Case Investigation and Prosecution

The case was a result of joint investigative efforts by:

  • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

  • Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

  • Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

  • Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office

The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Bondura and Deputy Criminal Chief Greg Gilluly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

Delgado-Celis is scheduled for sentencing in the coming weeks. His conviction underscores the federal government’s ongoing crackdown on transnational drug smuggling operations, even in smaller Georgia communities.

Posted in Government for its Citizens

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