Read more: Local, Crime, Marijuana, Drug Trafficking, Marijuana by Mail, Postal Inspectors, Mission, Hidalgo County, Rio Grande Valley, Texas
A 10-month investigation ended with federal officials filing criminal charges against seven Mission men for mailing 234 packages containing more than 3,000 pounds of marijuana.
Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas said U.S. Postal Inspectors arrested the following suspects in the case this week:
- Leopoldo Rodriguez, 41
- Juan Carlos Hernandez, 21
- Victor Hugo Mares, 25
- Angel Margarito Gallardo, 22
- Margarito Gallardo, 45
The five remain in custody while authorities search for two Mission men who remained at large for the case on Tuesday afternoon:
- Concepcion Gonzalez, 37
- Roman Vasquez-Mendez, 29
According to a criminal complaint filed in the case, postal inspectors discovered marijuana by mail scheme in August 2008.
Court records show that the parcels were similarly packaged and contained raw beans, sealed in the cap of a can of spray foam to create a rattling sound.
Upon inspection, the packages were found to contain expandable foam and marijuana wrapped in thick plastic.
Later, the packaging changed to contain mustard, salt and pepper placed in the cellophane as masking agents around the marijuana.
Postal inspectors learned through surveillance and search warrants that the group had mailed 234 packages containing more than 3,000 pounds of marijuana from various post offices throughout the Rio Grande Valley since May 2008.
The packages were destined to various addresses throughout the United States with most of the packages being sent to Connecticut, Puerto Rico, New York and Florida.
The suspects in this case face from five to 40 years in federal prison and a $2 million fine for drug charges filed against them.
They also face another four years in prison and a $250,000 fine for a misuse of a communications facility charge filed against them.
Anyone having information about persons responsible for mailing narcotics is encouraged to contact the local Postal Inspector's office at (956) 971-1721.
