Bradenton Man Faces Federal Prison for Smuggling Cocaine Across Mexican Border

A Bradenton man is facing federal prison time after pleading guilty to charges related to smuggling cocaine across the Mexican border for distribution in Manatee County and Central Florida. Prosecutors announced that Jose Ramirez, 39, was a key player in a drug trafficking organization that transported large quantities of cocaine from Mexico through Texas.

On August 29, Ramirez appeared in a Tampa courtroom where he admitted to conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. According to court records, Ramirez's involvement spanned from 2021 to 2023. During this period, he received monthly shipments of at least 20 kilograms of cocaine, which he later distributed across Manatee County and Central Florida.

Federal authorities have detailed how the organization, of which Ramirez was a part, utilized passenger vehicles with hidden compartments to transport the narcotics across state lines. Investigations revealed that drug proceeds were smuggled back to Mexico via commercial flights, concealed in carry-on luggage.

In a major breakthrough for federal agents, nearly $300,000 in drug proceeds was seized outside a Bradenton bank from one of Ramirez's co-conspirators. Additional assets were confiscated throughout the investigation, including approximately $500,000 discovered in a tractor-trailer in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Ramirez's drug trafficking activities now leave him facing the possibility of a life sentence in federal prison, with a mandatory minimum of 10 years. His sentencing hearing is set to take place at a later date.

This case has been the result of extensive collaboration between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Tampa Police Department, and the Gulfport Police Department. These efforts underscore the ongoing commitment of law enforcement to combat large-scale drug distribution networks operating within Florida and beyond.