A Filipino seafarer has pleaded guilty in a United States federal court to charges related to the importation of nearly 200 kilograms of cocaine into California while serving aboard an oil tanker that arrived from Ecuador.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the 43-year old seaman admitted that he knowingly transported the illegal drugs into the United States. Court records stated that the cocaine, weighing approximately 195 kilograms, was hidden inside the vessel's garbage compartment and in his cabin during the voyage.

Authorities said the seafarer had agreed to transport the drugs before the vessel departed Ecuador. However, the operation was uncovered after fellow crew members found the suspicious packages while the ship was at sea. The crew immediately reported the discovery to the ship\'s master.

The ship\'s captain secured the suspected cocaine and notified U.S. authorities before the vessel arrived in California. Upon the ship\'s arrival, law enforcement officers boarded the vessel, recovered the illegal drugs, and took the seafarer into custody.

The accused has remained in custody since his arrest in May 2026. He is scheduled to be sentenced in October 2026. Under U.S. federal law, the offense carries a possible prison sentence ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.

The case was investigated by U.S. federal authorities, while the prosecution is being handled by the United States Attorney\'s Office. The guilty plea marks a major development in the case, with sentencing to be decided by the court later this year.