The U.S. Postal Service prides itself on an exclusive network that reaches every household in America. Unfortunately, that is precisely what some criminal groups look to exploit to illegally traffic narcotics across state lines. And while the incidence of postal employee collusion is small, it does happen and typically with dire consequences for those involved.
In a recent multi-agency investigation, OIG agents responded to a source within USPS about an Indiana postal employee who was allegedly conspiring with an external drug trafficking organization. A months-long investigation found the employee indeed facilitated, transported, and delivered narcotics parcels via the U.S. Mail.
Through a series of operations, OIG agents along with investigators from the Postal Inspection Service, the DEA, and local and state police tracked down and intercepted several narcotics parcels. One of those parcels contained 4.6 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $125,000.
The employee admitted to using her official position with USPS to provide a member of the trafficking ring with the access and means to move the drugs into and through Indiana. She resigned from the Postal Service and, along with four other suspects, was later arrested.
