Tulsa USPS hub meth bust, TPD do K9 work without identifying suspicion first?

Later in the article the cop tries to mention that they first pull suspicious packages, but the way this supposedly went down doesn't seem like that's actually the process. I thought using dogs on all packages at the hub was only something that outgoing hubs in major cities of legalized states perform on a regular basis. This might be common practice at some receiving stations too!

http://www.claremoreprogress.com/news/intercepted-package-leads-to-arrests/article_20bfdac2-4523-11e6-a92c-b7d957e250b4.html

A package allegedly containing methamphetamine and marijuana was seized from a Tulsa parcel delivery service last week, resulting in three arrests in Rogers County.

Tulsa Police Department (TPD) Corporal Mike Griffin said his narcotics K-9, Jake, was performing drug interdiction work on parcels and had a positive alert on a package headed to Claremore. Griffin obtained a search warrant to open the package and verify its contents.

"The first thing I saw was the marijuana and thought there was more beneath it. But when I looked under it, I was pretty shocked to see a half-pound of meth," he said.

The amount of methamphetamine, he said, exceeded the threshold under Oklahoma State Law for drug trafficking. Griffin said there was just a small, "user" amount of marijuana.

**Griffin said he placed calls to the Rogers County Sheriff's Office, which took over the investigation and later arrested Janie Marie Drake, 38, of Claremore; Lisa M. Swisher, 50, of Grove; and Michael Anthony Evans, 56, of Rose.

The arrests came after RCSO investigators received the seized drugs from TPD, then conducted a controlled delivery -- posing as delivery agents -- to Drake's residence. Drake accepted the package, according to an RCSO affidavit.**

Drake was charged with drug trafficking, possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine, two counts of enabling child neglect of her own children, possession of controlled dangerous substances without tax stamps affixed, and maintaining a place for keeping/selling controlled dangerous substances -- all felony charges. She was also charged with a few misdemeanors.

According to the affidavit, while at Drake's house, RCSO investigators used Drake's cell phone to text a person later identified as an inmate in San Quentin State Prison in California, indicating "the package had arrived."

The inmate gave instructions to contact Swisher, according to the affidavit. Swisher later arrived at Drake's house with Evans, and both were subsequently arrested.

Swisher was charged with five felonies, including conspiracy to commit aggravated trafficking.

Evans was charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated trafficking and possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine. He had a large amount of cash on him and a small bag of methamphetamine, according to the RCSO affidavit.

Of the investigation, Griffin said, "What they (RCSO) did as work was really good, having an initiative to go and arrest the persons. They did a great job. They really did. "

Griffin said he deals with a large volume of illegal drug activity in Tulsa that reaches surrounding counties.

He said most of the drug trafficked into Oklahoma comes from California, Arizona, Colorado and Washington.

"Eighty-five percent of illegal drugs being sent through parcel delivery services interdicted by TPD has been marijuana," he said. This is because those states have legalized marijuana, he added.

According to Griffin, some parcel delivery services monitor mail while sorting, looking for specific traits associated with potential drug trafficking.

The United State Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) in 2015 reported 2,560 cases involving drug trafficking; 1,898 arrests were made and there were 1,785 convictions.

Parcels containing illegal drugs put postal employees at risk of being harmed by those looking for specific packages on their route, according to Leslie McClain, Public Information Officer for USPIS.

McClain said Wednesday, "The United States Postal Service is not in the business for transporting illegal narcotics. They are not in the business for drug trafficking and being an unwilling participant. Our whole mission is to protect the mail, protect our postal employees and protect the postal service and its infrastructure."


Comments


[9 Points] LordDongler:

When you're so spun that you decide that weed is the stealth for your meth package


[7 Points] tfmeads:

Very innovative stealth. Cops open your bag and let you go because it's only weed. Little do they know that sweet sweet meth is hiding underneath


[2 Points] None:

Stealth: 0/10

Seriously. Why draw unnecessary attention to the package by making an otherwise fairly "quiet" package to dogs very "loud" with the weed? Why not send the weed separately? At best, this is careless (maybe it was a sample from the vendor?), but maybe the customer ordered both... who knows? I don't want to think a vendor would move a half pound of meth and send some weed with it so it is intentionally more suspicious and riskier.


[1 Points] None:

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[1 Points] None:

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[1 Points] free-agent:

Scare tactics.


[1 Points] None:

Dogs are a very limited resource. They can't work for very long. There is no way they are going to be screening packages at a hub.


[0 Points] None:

im concerned about my deceased friend .... he hasnt chimed in about this yet..........