California Department of Toxic Substances Control assisted with this investigation

“We have government agencies, investigators and prosecutors in place to help protect our health and our environment.  When someone puts personal profit over regulations that are meant to protect us, these government agencies step in, even if it means a lengthy investigation.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona.

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

SAN DIEGO – On January 24, 2025, Ruben Montes, 60, of Calexico, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to smuggle and distribute more than $3 million worth of Mexican pesticides and veterinary drugs that are not approved for use in the United States.

In pleading guilty, Montes acknowledged that since at least November 2020, he coordinated the smuggling of pesticides and veterinary drugs from Mexico into the United States. Montes also admitted to smuggling the chemicals and drugs into the United States from Mexico himself and distributing them within the United States. The primary pesticides involved were Taktic and Bovitraz, which are not registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use in the United States. The smuggled veterinary drugs included Tylocet, Terramicina, Tetragent Ares and Catarrol, which are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States.

Montes admitted that he and others hid the pesticides and veterinary drugs in storage units in Calexico and retrieved them for distribution throughout the United States.

According to experts at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the active ingredient in the pesticides Taktic and Bovitraz is amitraz, which is toxic to bees, if it is released into hives, and humans when it ultimately ends up in honey, honeycomb, and beeswax. Misuse of amitraz-containing products in beehives can result in exposures that could cause neurological effects and possibly reproductive effects in humans from the consumption of contaminated honey. Signs of neurotoxicity from exposure to amitraz has been documented in multiple animal species, and include central nervous system depression, decrease in pulse rate, and hypothermia.

“Today’s guilty plea is the result of a long-term Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigation, worked in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), into an organization that conspired to smuggle Mexican pesticides into the U.S.,” said Shawn Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of HSI in San Diego.  “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and bring to justice criminals who introduce substances that threaten the safety of our communities.”