By: Richard L. Smith
A Chicago man has admitted his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy responsible for bringing more than 260 pounds of methamphetamine into New Jersey the largest methamphetamine seizure in the state’s history.
According to information released by U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer, Marcos Cesar Acosta, 47, most recently of Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Camden to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams.
Federal prosecutors said Acosta traveled to New Jersey on April 28, 2026, to oversee the delivery of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine that had been transported by truck.
After the truck arrived in New Jersey, law enforcement officers arrested Acosta and a co-conspirator.
During the investigation, authorities recovered three black storage boxes, a duffel bag, and a garbage bag from the truck’s cab, all containing methamphetamine.
Officials said the total amount of methamphetamine seized exceeded 260 pounds, making it the largest methamphetamine seizure ever recorded in New Jersey.
Acosta faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and could receive a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. He also faces a fine of up to $10 million.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 17, 2026.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the investigation remains part of ongoing efforts to disrupt large-scale drug trafficking organizations operating in and through New Jersey.