A Mexican national who had previously been deported from the United States twice is facing federal charges after authorities said they seized 126 kilograms of methamphetamine during a major drug investigation in Georgia.
Pedro Guadarrama-Loza, 38, was arrested Aug. 13 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The arrest followed an investigation into a shipment from Mexico containing approximately 277 pounds of material that tested positive for methamphetamine. Guadarrama-Loza also has a previous Georgia conviction for drug trafficking and a history of illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
“This criminal illegal alien from Mexico was arrested with 126 kilograms of methamphetamine, has prior convictions for drug trafficking, and has already been deported from our country TWICE,” a DHS representative said.
“Thanks to the hard work of the brave men and women of HSI, this drug trafficker is off our streets and will soon be removed from our country. He will no longer be able to peddle his poison on American streets and endanger American lives.”
According to DHS, Guadarrama-Loza’s immigration history stretches back more than two decades. He illegally entered the United States in 2004 near Austin, Texas, and was deported four years later.
Meet Pedro Guadarrama-Loza, an illegal alien and CONVICTED DRUG TRAFFICKER who was recently arrested after shipping more than 275 POUNDS of methamphetamine to Gainesville, GA.
THANK YOU, ICE, for getting this criminal illegal and his dangerous drugs out of the Ninth District! pic.twitter.com/7AqVcnKSEw
— Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep_Clyde) August 17, 2026
He later returned to the country and was convicted in Georgia in 2014 of trafficking in controlled substances. After completing his sentence, he was deported again in 2017. Authorities said he subsequently reentered the United States at an unknown time.
The latest case began July 29, when law enforcement officers identified what the Department of Justice described as a “suspicious shipment of five boxes from Mexico en route to the Gainesville, Georgia area.”
U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg said the five boxes contained 277 pounds of black powder that tested positive for methamphetamine.
Authorities allowed the shipment to proceed, and the boxes were delivered on Aug. 12.
“Loza allegedly emerged from the residence, took possession of the boxes, and went inside. Agents executed a federal search warrant on the residence, seized the boxes, and arrested Loza, who was attempting to flee out of the back door,” the Justice Department said.
The seizure amounted to more than 275 pounds of methamphetamine.
“This illegal alien, convicted felon, and drug dealer allegedly attempted to coordinate the trafficking of a massive amount of methamphetamine in North Georgia,” Hertzberg said.
“Due to the skilled coordination of our law enforcement partners, a load of deadly drugs concealed in industrial powder was seized, and Loza now faces serious charges in federal court,” he added.
Steven Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama, called the seizure a significant result of cooperation among federal and local authorities.
“This seizure represents a significant victory in our ongoing efforts to disrupt the flow of dangerous narcotics into our communities,” Schrank said. “By working closely with our local and federal partners, HSI agents successfully intercepted over 275 pounds of methamphetamine and apprehended an individual who had already been removed from the United States.”
The case now puts Guadarrama-Loza back in federal custody years after his second deportation. This time, authorities allege that his return involved an attempt to take possession of a shipment containing well over 100 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Guadarrama-Loza has been charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and illegal reentry by a previously removed alien.
