Drug shipment was no baloney, police say

HOLYOKE, Mass., Aug. 28 (UPI) -- A hunk of bologna mailed to a home in western Massachusetts delivered cocaine, not cold cuts, police said.

Local and federal lawmen confiscated $100,000 worth of the drug hidden inside hollowed-out meat mailed from Puerto Rico and arrested a man Thursday evening, The (Springfield, Mass.) Republican reported.

Narcotics detectives, FBI agents and a U.S. Postal Service inspector executed a federal warrant and raided the home in Holyoke, Mass., police said.

Juan Rodriguez, 30, was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine. He was ordered held in lieu of $100,000 cash or $1 million surety bail.

Postal Inspector Brian Dailey contacted Holyoke police Wednesday about the parcel, saying it may contain illegal drugs, the newspaper said. Similar packages had been sent to the same address in May and June.

Dailey and postal inspectors in Puerto Rico had been investigating drug shipments from there to people around the country.

Dailey, working undercover, delivered the parcel, and it was signed for by a woman sitting on the steps with Rodriguez. Police said he took the package and went inside.

Police raided the scene minutes later. Other suspects were being sought.