Despicable Smugglers Stashed Drugs in Children’s Lunchboxes

The New York authorities have arrested five men who allegedly smuggled millions of dollars of narcotics from Puerto Rico in children’s lunch boxes displaying popular cartoon characters.
Earlier this year, several New York law enforcement agencies joined DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force to investigate a situation involving purportedly illegal packages being shipped.
The authorities asserted that a drug trafficking ring was shipping large quantities of narcotics from Puerto Rico to New York.
According to a press release from the DA’s office, “Packages were shipped to residential addresses in New York State, including in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, and Greene County, as well as to Massachusetts.” The packages were reportedly addressed to recipients that did not exist. Though they were sent from Puerto Rico, the packages also allegedly contained return addresses in New York.
When they opened the packages, it was reported that the authorities discovered children’s lunchboxes adorned with images of “My Little Pony” and “Despicable Me” characters. The lunchboxes were allegedly stuffed with packages containing a white substance asserted to be cocaine.
Some of the confiscated packages reportedly had fingerprints on them, and they were sent for testing. When the results were obtained, the authorities said they believed they had obtained the identities of the suspects associated with at least six packages.
36-year-old Carlos Duarte, and Alexis Garcia, 41, were named as the ringleaders of the alleged operation. Duarte’s fingerprints were reportedly on four packages, and Garcia’s were on two.
23-year-old Bryan Centeno-Rosado, 27-year-old Raul Sweeney, and Wesley Coddington, 43 were additionally named as suspects.
Sweeney, Coddington, and Centeno-Rosado were already detained at an earlier date, but Duarte and Garcia were arrested on the morning of October 27.
The men are facing numerous and various drug charges for the allegations. All of them have been charged with possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy, and Duarte was additionally charged with operating as a major trafficker.
The authorities reported that they seized 30 kilograms in the investigation, with 15 kilograms currently purported to be a part of the allegations against the five men.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a drug offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.