A 20-year-old Pharr resident has pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, announced Alamdar S. Hamdani.Jesus Neftali Padilla directed drivers to travel north through Border Patrol (BP) checkpoints further into the United States. He admitted to directing the drug smuggling events and supplying cocaine. He also placed modified cocaine-filled batteries in hidden compartments to attempt to avoid detection.One incident occurred Jan. 27, 2023, at the Sarita BP checkpoint when authorities encountered a vehicle with approximately four kilograms of cocaine hidden in its battery compartment.Approximately two months later, a truck approached the same checkpoint, at which time ...