Authorities say an international drug dealer who oversaw the shipping of cocaine and fentanyl to South Dakota has been sentenced.
Melecio Rodriguez Medina, 39, will serve 27 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug conspiracy charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of South Dakota.
Medina, of Sinaloa, Mexico, arranged for narcotics to be shipped from Mexico to Sioux Falls, prosecutors said. In late 2021, Medina tried getting two shipments of cocaine into South Dakota totaling nearly 150 pounds. Authorities seized both shipments.
Medina also allegedly organized shipping several pounds of fentanyl and meth into the state.
A co-conspirator, Mario Castro Covarrubias, also pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges in January.