A federal judge in Baja California Sur sentenced a La Paz man to four years and two months in prison for possessing methamphetamine for sale in the Colonia Solidaridad neighborhood.
The defendant, identified only as Esteban “N” under Mexican privacy laws, was convicted after state criminal investigators found him carrying 95 grams of methamphetamine divided into three plastic bags. Officers also seized a gram scale and 300 pesos (about $15 USD) in cash at the time of his arrest.
Abbreviated Procedure Speeds Conviction
The case was resolved through Mexico’s “procedimiento abreviado,” a legal mechanism similar to a plea deal in the United States. This abbreviated procedure allows defendants to accept charges in exchange for a reduced sentence, and federal prosecutors in Baja California Sur have increasingly relied on it to resolve drug possession cases without a full trial.
In addition to the prison term, the judge imposed a fine of 9,228.45 pesos (roughly $460 USD). The court also ordered the forfeiture of all items seized during the arrest, including the methamphetamine, the scale, and the cash.
Drug Activity in La Paz Neighborhoods
Colonia Solidaridad is a residential neighborhood located in the western part of La Paz, away from the tourist waterfront along the Malecón. The area is primarily home to working-class families. The conviction points to street-level drug distribution operating within established residential zones of the state capital.
La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur with a population of roughly 300,000, has seen periodic drug enforcement operations in recent years. While the city has a lower crime profile than border cities such as Tijuana, federal and state authorities have targeted small-scale methamphetamine distribution networks across several colonias.
The 95 grams seized in this case, split into three bags alongside a precision scale, is consistent with quantities associated with local retail distribution rather than large-scale trafficking.
The case was first reported by Colectivo Pericú.