MCALLEN, Texas — Two employees of UPS have been charged in connection with an alleged drug trafficking plot in Texas, officials say. Three others were arrested in connection as well.
U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani said in a news release that five people were arrested on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Federal officials said Javier Enrique Mendoza, 48, provided the packages of cocaine, Jose Felipe Lozano, 58, made the fraudulent labels for the packages, and Enrique Bernardo Gamez, 45, stored the drugs at his house, according to NBC News. The UPS employees were identified as Orlando Candelario Almanza, 49, and Fidencio Salinas Jr., 51.
Hamdani said that Almanza and Salinas Jr. knowingly transported the cocaine packages.
Law enforcement seized about 60 kilograms of cocaine from March 24, through Oct. 3, 2022, authorities said.
The indictment against the five men was returned on Feb. 21 and was unsealed after the arrests were made last week.
A spokesperson for UPS told NBC News that they are aware of the incident, but declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation.
If convicted, all five could face life in prison with a possible $10 million fine, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.
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