Eleven individuals have been implicated in a drug trafficking operation, exploiting the US Postal Service as a conduit for cocaine shipments between Puerto Rico and america mainland.
This revelation follows an in depth investigation culminating in a multi-state arrest operation.
The accused
The operation’s masterminds, recognized as Emmanuel A. Fernández García, Edwin Orlando Carrasquillo, Efraín Guillermo Vila Serrano, Marymar Marrero Torres, Pedro Benjamín Marrero Torres, Arajulia Ramírez Del Valle, Sebastián Restrepo Cano, Luis Dejesus III, Gadelys Rosario Alvarado, Tyrone José Beltrán Lugo, and David Custodio Hernández, have been apprehended on February 14 throughout Massachusetts, Florida, and Puerto Rico.
Costs and authorized proceedings
A federal grand jury indicted these people on 9 counts, together with the intent to distribute cocaine via postal companies.
The indictment traces the conspiracy again to April 2019, detailing a well-orchestrated plan to smuggle and distribute cocaine throughout the East Coast till September 2022.
– Commercial –
The struggle towards drug trafficking
Stephen Muldrow, america Legal professional for the District of Puerto Rico, emphasised the menace drug trafficking poses to public well being and security.
He highlighted the collaborative effort to dismantle this felony group that sought to infiltrate communities with cocaine via varied means, together with the mail.
Postal service integrity and regulation enforcement collaboration
Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Cost of the US Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division, lauded the joint effort in addressing the problem.
– Commercial –
The operation underscores the dedication to eradicating narcotics from the mail system, making certain the protection of postal staff and clients, and sustaining the integrity of postal companies.
Jail sentence
If convicted, the defendants face a compulsory minimal penalty of 10 years in jail for the conspiracy charged in rely one of many indictment. They’re additionally going through a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $6,930,000.
A federal district courtroom choose will decide any sentence after contemplating the US Sentencing Tips and different statutory components.