An illegal alien in St. Paul was arrested last week after two packages, each reportedly containing an estimated 5 pounds of methamphetamine, were delivered to him.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County, airport police alerted the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office that they intercepted a package sent from Modesto, Calif., which contained roughly 5 pounds of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.
The package’s final destination was a St. Paul home. However, authorities learned that “no one lived at the [St. Paul home] under the name listed on the package.”
In turn, Ramsey County deputies took custody of the package, removed some of its contents, and replaced some of its contents with a similar-looking substance. Law enforcement also put a tracking device and surveillance equipment in the package and prepared it for delivery.
Before delivering the package, law enforcement surveilled the St. Paul home and reportedly observed 54-year-old Sergio Magana-Gonzalez outside the residence. Police allegedly saw a FedEx driver drop off a different package and watched Magana-Gonzalez take that package into the home.
Eventually, a police officer with the Airport Police Department posed as a delivery driver and delivered the controlled package containing the police surveillance equipment. According to the criminal complaint, Magana-Gonzalez picked up the package and took it into the home.
Magana-Gonzalez eventually left the home and attempted to board a bus where he was taken into police custody.
Law enforcement searched Magana-Gonzalez and reportedly found wire transfer receipts, $2,396 in cash, two cellphones, and a permanent residence card. According to court documents, the residence card “appeared to be fraudulent.”
The St. Paul home was also searched. In the home, police allegedly found the controlled package and the second package that was delivered by FedEx. The package delivered by FedEx reportedly contained 5 pounds of methamphetamine.
Additional methamphetamine was allegedly found in Magana-Gonzalez’s socks. In an interview with police, Magana-Gonzalez reportedly showed officers social media messages which indicated “he had full knowledge of the packages.”
According to the criminal complaint, Magana-Gonzalez “made comments to the effect of ‘well the packages aren’t in my name.'”
Court documents say, “the seized narcotics have been submitted to the BCA for testing and final weight. At this time, it is estimated that 10 pounds of methamphetamine were seized.”
During the operation, law enforcement officers from the St. Paul Police Department, the Airport Police Department, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security worked on the case.
The criminal complaint says Magana-Gonzalez “appears to have no criminal history except illegal entry into the United States.”
A spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed to Alpha News that Magana-Gonzalez is an illegal alien from Mexico.
“ICE filed an immigration detainer with the Ramsey County Jail on July 24, 2026, for Sergio Magana Gonzalez, an illegal alien from Mexico,” the ICE spokesperson said in a statement. “Gonzalez was previously removed from the United States in 2015 and subsequently illegally reentered the country.”
According to Ramsey County jail records, Magana-Gonzalez is currently in the custody of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office. He has been charged with one felony drug crime which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, or both.
Rachael Van Rossum
Rachael Van Rossum is a journalist and author who studies political science in the Twin Cities. She previously interned with the Illinois House of Representatives and recently published her debut fantasy novel "The Hellburner of Sovi." Rachael is passionate about telling compelling stories and bringing to life the voices of political figures, athletes, and members of her community through engaging writing. She is the Alpha News journalism fellow for the summer of 2026.
