An Arizona man pleaded guilty in federal court in Alabama to trafficking thousands of pills containing the opioid analog carfentanil through the U.S. mail.
Ignacio Miguel Tirado-Castillo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, distribution of a fentanyl analog, and attempted distribution of a fentanyl analog, U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams said in a July 24 statement.
“Thanks to the dedicated work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, thousands of lethal carfentanil pills were intercepted before they made their way onto our streets,” Williams said.
“We will continue to leverage every resource to protect our communities from those who would destroy them through the distribution of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues.”
A federal grand jury in Birmingham indicted Tirado-Castillo in May 2025 after postal inspectors intercepted a suspicious package in transit from Phoenix to Midfield, Alabama.
Postal officials in Denver flagged the package and alerted inspectors in Birmingham, where a postal inspector took custody of it upon arrival.
A narcotics detection dog alerted authorities to the package, prompting inspectors to obtain a federal search warrant.
Inside, they found about 20,300 counterfeit “M-30” pills containing carfentanil.
Carfentanil is a fentanyl equivalent approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl.
Investigators later identified Tirado-Castillo as the sender, and he admitted mailing the package.
According to court filings, a search of Tirado-Castillo’s iCloud account uncovered additional evidence of alleged criminal activity, including photographs of firearms—some reported stolen—being transported to Mexico.
The account also allegedly contained graphic images and discussions associated with cartel violence, as well as a video depicting a decapitation.
Williams said Tirado-Castillo also faces similar charges in the District of Nebraska.
Federal agents arrested him in Arizona in connection with the Nebraska case. During the arrest, investigators discovered an additional 25 pounds of carfentanil in his apartment.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service remains steadfast in its collaboration with law enforcement partners, standing side by side to relentlessly pursue individuals infiltrating our communities with lethal narcotics like carfentanil,” said Shameka Jackson, inspector in charge of the Postal Inspection Service in Houston.
“We remain committed to preventing these illicit substances from entering the U.S. mail system, protecting our postal employees, and safeguarding our community.”
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative targeting illegal immigration and related criminal activity.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Birmingham Police Department, and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Garnett prosecuted it.
