Task Force Seizes 2C-B and Other Drugs in Sealy Traffic Stop

A traffic stop in the Sealy area led to the seizure of approximately 2.5 kilograms of 2C-B, 275 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 40 grams of MDMA and 17 grams of cocaine, according to the Westside Narcotics Task Force HIDTA.

The task force said the seizure followed an investigation into a drug trafficking organization suspected of distributing methamphetamine and 2C-B in the Houston and Austin County areas. Investigators identified Alexander Amaya Palta as a member of the organization and stopped the 2026 Toyota Camry he was driving on Nov. 12.

The Austin County District Attorney’s Office charged Amaya Palta with possession with intent to distribute illegal narcotics, according to the task force.

A rough value estimate for the reported 2C-B seizure is $500,000 to $1.25 million, based on an older federal retail-price estimate of $200 to $500 per gram. That calculation covers only the 2C-B and is not an official local valuation; prices, purity and the composition of seized substances can vary.

The task force described the 2C-B as “tusi.” The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says tusi, also known as pink cocaine, is now usually a mixture of drugs and rarely contains 2C-B, so laboratory analysis is important in identifying its contents.

If convicted under Texas law for possessing with intent to deliver the reported quantities, the 2.5 kilograms of 2C-B and 275 grams of methamphetamine fall within ranges that can carry first-degree felony penalties of 10 to 99 years or life in prison and fines of up to $100,000. The applicable charges and penalties depend on laboratory results and the offenses prosecutors pursue.

The Westside Narcotics Task Force HIDTA covers six counties and includes investigators from the Austin County Sheriff’s Office, Bellville Police Department, Sealy Police Department, Hempstead Police Department, Waller County Sheriff’s Office, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado County Sheriff’s Office, Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office, Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.