A joint investigation conducted by the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons resulted in the arrest of two Texas men accused of attempting to smuggle drugs and cell phones into the federal prison facility in Grant Parish.

According to authorities, one of the suspects was in the United States illegally, while the other was identified as a member of Paisas, a Mexican national prison and street gang known to operate both inside and outside correctional facilities.

Jose Alberto Castillo, 24 of Donna, Texas, was arrested on multiple charges, including Criminal Street Gangs and Patterns of Criminal Gang Activity, Criminal Conspiracy, Littering, and Attempting to Take Contraband into a Penal Institution.

Juan Carlos-Salazar Aguilar, 24 of Edinburg, Texas, was arrested on charges of Criminal Conspiracy, Attempting to Take Contraband into a Penal Institution, and Littering.

Federal officials confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued an immigration detainer for Aguilar.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine whether additional individuals or criminal networks were involved in the attempted contraband operation.