The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) routinely investigates illegal narcotics being trafficked through the mail. However, when there’s suspicion that a postal employee may be involved, our special agents are called in to bring that person to justice.

That’s how this investigation got its start in Toledo, OH, after postal inspectors suspected an employee was helping criminals move drugs through the U.S. Mail. The packages under surveillance were all addressed to locations along this employee’s mail route, yet most never reached their intended recipients.

Our special agents teamed up with USPIS and the Drug Enforcement Administration to execute a search warrant on a suspicious package. Though the parcel had children’s toys, school supplies, and other seemingly harmless items, it was actually a decoy concealing over 2 lbs. of cocaine and 1 lb. pound of heroin laced with deadly fentanyl. With their suspicions confirmed, they were ready to apprehend the suspects.

Investigators discovered that the accomplice would coordinate meeting spots along the carrier’s delivery route, where the packages were exchanged for cash. The pair attempted to hide their activities by using false identities, changing addresses, and often changing their meeting locations. Despite these efforts, authorities arrested them during a planned handoff.

After his arrest, the postal employee was suspended and subsequently terminated from the Postal Service. The employee received a two-year prison sentence, while his accomplice was sentenced to more than 10 years. Both are subject to supervised release with special conditions for mental health treatment and substance abuse support.

If you suspect or know of narcotics trafficking involving Postal Service employees or contractors, please report it to our Hotline. And if you or someone you know is suffering from a substance use disorder, there are resources that can help, such as FindTreatment.gov. 

For further reading:

Department of Justice (via uspsoig.gov), Former Postal Worker Pleads Guilty to Role in Drugs Trafficked through U.S. Mail