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A Tucson man involved in large deliveries of marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine across the country was sentenced in New Jersey Monday to 26 years in federal prison.

Alex Hetherington, 30, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

The investigation began when about 460 pounds of cocaine was seized by the Texas Highway Patrol and Texas Department of Public Safety near Amarillo in February 2007, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey.

Authorities then decided to replace the drugs with fake cocaine and continue on with the delivery, which was destined for New Jersey, the release said.

Hetherington, who had flown to New Jersey from Arizona to oversee the final distribution, was arrested after he was caught moving the fake drugs from one vehicle to another, according to the release.

Hetherington told authorities that the drugs came from Colombia, traveled through Mexico and entered the United States via the U.S.-Mexico border, possibly through tunnels.

He admitted to overseeing the deliveries in the U.S., using stash houses and other individuals to assist him, authorities said.

Upon completing his sentence, Hetherington will serve five years of supervised release.