NEW BERN, N.C. — A Wayne County man convicted of operating a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking operation has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison following a federal investigation that uncovered drugs hidden inside flip-flops shipped from Mexico.
Fernando Chaidez, 46, was sentenced after a federal jury convicted him on April 1, 2026, of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to federal prosecutors, the investigation began on Nov. 8, 2023, when Customs and Border Protection intercepted a package from Guerrero, Mexico, addressed to Duplin County. Inside the package, investigators discovered approximately 2.2 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within the soles of flip-flops.
A week later, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office conducted a controlled delivery of the package to the home of Stephen Darden in Duplin County. After Darden accepted the package, investigators arrested him.
Authorities said Chaidez arrived at the residence shortly afterward, retrieved the package, and was immediately taken into custody. A search of his vehicle uncovered additional methamphetamine and a garage door opener linked to his residence in Wayne County.
Investigators then executed a search warrant at Chaidez’s Wayne County home, where they found several pairs of cut-open flip-flops believed to have previously concealed narcotics, along with multiple firearms. The weapons recovered included an AR-15 rifle, a 5.7-caliber semi-automatic handgun, and a high-capacity 5.7-caliber drum magazine.
Federal prosecutors said Chaidez had an extensive criminal history involving the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine dating back to 2010. Although he was released from prison in 2022, authorities said he quickly resumed trafficking and distributed more than 154 pounds of methamphetamine before his arrest in 2023.
Darden was also convicted for his role in the operation and received a sentence of three years and four months in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle praised the collaborative effort that led to the conviction, stating that law enforcement agencies remain committed to dismantling cartel-linked drug operations and protecting communities across eastern North Carolina.
HSI Carolinas Special Agent in Charge Mark M. Zito said the prosecution removed a significant quantity of methamphetamine and multiple firearms from area communities, adding that the sentence sends a strong message to those who profit from drug trafficking.
Wayne County Sheriff Larry Pierce credited the success of the case to the close partnership among local, state, and federal agencies.
“This is the result of hard work and strong partnerships between every agency involved in this investigation,” Pierce said. “When we work together, we send a clear message that crime won’t be tolerated in our communities. I’m grateful to everyone who worked on this case, and we’ll continue working every day to keep Wayne County safe.”
SBI Director Chip Hawley also highlighted the teamwork behind the investigation, saying the collaboration between HSI, SBI, and the Duplin and Wayne County Sheriff’s Offices resulted in the successful prosecution of a cartel trafficker responsible for moving large quantities of methamphetamine through eastern North Carolina.
The prosecution was part of Operation Tsunami Rising, an initiative under the Homeland Security Task Force that targets criminal cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and major drug trafficking operations through coordinated federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts.
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