BRUNSWICK, Ga. () — A Mexican national living illegally in Hazlehurst was sentenced to over 15 years on drug charges Friday, a U.S. Attorney spokesperson said.

Ismael Delgado-Celis, 37 was sentenced to nearly 18 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of possessing and attempting to possess with the intent to distribute over four pounds of 100% pure methamphetamine, officials said. There is no parole in the federal system.

The charges stem from an incident on Sept. 12, 2024, where Delgado-Celis attempted to receive a package from Mexico that contained the meth, the U.S. Attorney spokesperson said.

The package was reportedly described as a horse saddle but had been constructed around the drugs and had over two kilograms of meth inside.

Law enforcement then delivered the package to Delgado-Celis, who accepted the package before being arrested.

“Methamphetamine destroys lives, families, and communities,” U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap said. “This amount of methamphetamine could have devastated the community. I am pleased to work with such great law enforcement partners. It takes a network of law enforcement professionals to dismantle a network of criminals.”

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigation, Customs and Border Protection and the Jeff Davis Sheriff’s Office.

The case was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura and Deputy Criminal Chief E. Greg Gilluly, Jr.