Multiple UPS employees have been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged drug trafficking operation that investigators say ran for about a decade, according to authorities in Tucson, Arizona.
Police say the investigation began in 2009 and identified a 49 year old supervisor named Mario, who had worked for the company for 20 years, as the alleged ringleader. Authorities say 11 employees were arrested over the past two weeks, and four people had been formally charged so far. Those charged have not been convicted, and the charges are allegations.
Investigators allege the group moved thousands of pounds of narcotics and marijuana each week across the United States, along with counterfeit vape oil from Mexico. Authorities say the scheme worked because drugs were hidden in cardboard boxes moving through the company’s delivery system.
Sgt. William Kaderly of the local police department said the suspected ringleader was able to provide this service to drug traffickers without being detected, inside or outside the company, for years. According to Kaderly, the group had been at it so long that they felt comfortable they would not get caught. Authorities also allege that money from the operation paid for vehicles, homes and vacations.
UPS said in a statement that it is cooperating with law enforcement but is not able to discuss details of the arrests because the investigation is ongoing. The people arrested had not publicly responded at the time of publication.
