Mexican Cartel Hid Liquid Meth in Candles Sent to Puget Sound Drug Ring, Feds Say

Seattle, Feb. 13, 2026 — A shipment of liquid methamphetamine concealed inside candle wax is at the center of a federal drug trafficking case that brought an alleged cartel-connected leader into a Seattle courtroom this week.

Jose Luis Sanchez-Valencia, 58, appeared Thursday in U.S. District Court in Seattle after being transferred from Mexico to the United States last month. Federal prosecutors allege he led a violent drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in the South Puget Sound region with ties to a Mexican cartel.

He has pleaded not guilty. Trial is scheduled for April 20 before U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour.

Candles Used to Conceal Liquid Meth

According to a federal indictment, the organization received a shipment of liquid methamphetamine in November 2019 that had been hidden inside candles.

Prosecutors allege members of the drug ring extracted the liquid meth from the wax and then converted it into crystal methamphetamine at a location in Port Orchard, Washington.

The unusual concealment method highlights what authorities say are increasingly sophisticated smuggling tactics used by cartel-linked groups to move narcotics into U.S. communities.

Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Seattle Field Division, said disguising methamphetamine inside everyday consumer items demonstrates the lengths traffickers will go to evade detection.

Federal Charges and Allegations

A federal grand jury indicted Sanchez-Valencia in 2022 on four felony counts:

• Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances

• Three counts of illegal use of a communication facility

Prosecutors allege he directed operations connected to the South Puget Sound-based trafficking ring while maintaining cartel ties in Mexico.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd for the Western District of Washington described Sanchez-Valencia as the cartel-connected leader of a violent organization that profited from drug distribution at the expense of local communities.

Court documents cite intercepted phone calls linking him to the conspiracy and to a local ring leader, Jose Elias Barbosa.

Violence Surrounding the Operation

Authorities say the organization operated with a culture of violence.

While law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance on the Port Orchard property where meth was allegedly being processed, Barbosa was shot behind the residence, according to investigators.

Barbosa was later sentenced on Feb. 28, 2023, to more than 12 years in federal prison for his leadership role in the cartel-linked drug trafficking organization.

The indictment against Sanchez-Valencia references three phone calls between him and Barbosa connected to the drug distribution activities.

Wiretap evidence allegedly revealed that members of the organization pursued individuals who owed drug debts and carried firearms during operations.

Court filings state that conversations among members included discussions of kidnappings, assaults and killings as methods to enforce payment and maintain control.

International Transfer and Extradition

Sanchez-Valencia was among 37 Mexican nationals wanted in the United States for serious criminal charges who were transferred into U.S. custody on Jan. 20.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs coordinated the transfer, according to federal authorities.

Officials said the goal is to hold leadership figures accountable, regardless of whether they operate domestically or from abroad.

Potential Penalties

If convicted, Sanchez-Valencia faces severe penalties under federal law.

The charges carry:

• A mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison

• A potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment

Federal prosecutors emphasized that they intend to pursue accountability for high-level organizers, not only local distributors.

Broader Context

The Puget Sound region has seen increased federal focus on narcotics trafficking networks with cross-border connections.

Authorities say cartel-linked organizations continue to adapt smuggling techniques, often disguising narcotics within legitimate goods to avoid detection during shipping and distribution.

The case underscores the ongoing collaboration between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement agencies in targeting transnational drug trafficking operations.

Sanchez-Valencia remains in federal custody pending trial.

Further proceedings are scheduled as the case moves toward its April court date.