LA PALOMA – A Gulf Cartel leader was caught in the Rio Grande Valley and now faces federal drug charges.

He's known as "El Diablo", but his legal name is Rene Garcia-Cantu. 

According to the criminal complaint, Border Patrol agents found a trail of footsteps leading to him near La Paloma, Texas on July 17, 2019.

They determined he entered the country illegally through Cameron County and took him to the Harlingen Border Patrol Station to be processed.

According to the complaint, Garcia acknowledged he played a leadership role in the Gulf Cartel to help smuggle marijuana from Jan. 2016 through Jan. 2019.

He told agents he was in charge of smuggling 300 kilograms of marijuana three times a week from Carricitos to Los Indios, Texas; it yielded a profit of about $302,400 a year. 

Agents spoke about their suspicion of a specific drug smuggling event from 2016 involving 235 kilograms of marijuana. Garcia reportedly admitted to coordinating it. 

Garcia is facing two drug charges in federal court.

A detention hearing is scheduled before a federal judge on Wednesday.