Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

US postal inspectors seize Honolulu drugs package

Posted at 22:04 on 02 May, 2006 UTC

U.S. postal inspectors in Honolulu have seized a parcel containing almost 800 grams of methamphetamine hidden inside a child’s doll, according to papers filed in federal court yesterday.

The Honolulu Advertiser reports that on Thursday a parcel arrived in Honolulu, and a drug-sniffing dog gave a positive alert for the presence of narcotics.

The parcel was addressed to Joshua Santos at a Hilo residential address.

Federal drug agents placed an electronic beeper device inside the package and replaced the real drugs with "pseudo methamphetamine."

On Friday a postal inspector posing as a mailman delivered the parcel.

From the beeper signals, surveillance units determined Santos and a woman, drove off, taking the parcel with them.

The two drove to a home in Keaau, and the beeper signals indicated the parcel was being opened.

Law enforcement officials entered the home and arrested Santos who was charged with attempting to possess with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.

The doll with the fake methamphetamine and the cardboard box it came in were recovered from under a bed.