LOS ANGELES, CA — An oil tanker crew member on Monday pleaded guilty to concealing about 430 pounds of cocaine on the vessel as it traveled from Ecuador toward El Segundo, federal prosecutors said.
Ceasar Tubay Gelacio Jr., 43, of the Philippines, pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly bringing cocaine aboard a vessel arriving in the U.S., according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Gelacio has remained in federal custody since his May 21 arrest.
Gelacio was working as a seaman aboard the Aquatravesia, an oil tanker scheduled to arrive in El Segundo, when he agreed to take possession of cocaine while the ship was docked in Ecuador, prosecutors said.
Gelacio admitted hiding about 195 kilograms, or 430 pounds, of cocaine in the tanker’s garbage area and in his room, prosecutors said.
The Aquatravesia entered U.S. territory near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach on May 21 with the drugs still aboard, according to prosecutors.
Crew members discovered the cocaine hidden in trash bags and notified the ship’s captain. The captain later determined that Gelacio possessed the drugs, secured the cocaine and contacted law enforcement, prosecutors said.
Authorities boarded the tanker and recovered the cocaine that day.
At the time of Gelacio’s arrest, court documents claimed that the drugs had been intended for delivery to a Mexican cartel. The ship’s captain also reported receiving suspected radio calls from cartel members as the tanker traveled through Mexican waters, according to an earlier federal complaint.
Gelacio is due back on court for sentencing on Oct. 19.
He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life behind bars.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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