Two Texas UPS employees have been hit with multiple charges after they were busted for trafficking cocaine in packages.
Orlando Candelario Almanza and Fidencio Salinas Jr. were among five charged on Monday in a drug trafficking ring from March 24th through October 3rd, 2022. The two men used their daily job duties to transport cocaine under the leadership of 48-year-old Javier Enrique Mendoza, who supplied the group with the narcotics. Jose Felipe Lozano allegedly created fake labels for the packages, and 45-year-old Enrique Bernardo Gamez stored the drugs at his home before the UPS workers transported them to their destinations.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, in collaboration with the FBI and Hidalgo County High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, conducted the investigation. During their probe, law enforcement confiscated nearly 132 pounds of cocaine the group allegedly trafficked.
Each of the men was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, according to court documents obtained by NBC News. UPS released a statement confirming that they are cooperating with authorities.
“We are aware of the incident involving two UPS employees, and we’re cooperating with the investigation,” UPS said. “As this is an ongoing investigation, we are not able to make additional comments at this time, but instead defer to investigating authorities.”
This latest bust comes just three weeks after a New York City United States Postal Service mailman was busted delivering kilograms of cocaine during his routes. Another delivery driver who was caught last year in Mobile, Alabama, pleaded guilty days ago to trafficking fentanyl across the country.
If the Texas men are convicted, each could receive a life sentence in addition to a $10 million fine.
