Police said 1 of the arrested men sought a refund from the postal carrier because the package - which police said contained cocaine - was late.
Ignacio Diaz, left, and Jean Carlo Hornedo, rightHOLYOKE – Ignacio Diaz demanded a refund because his package was late, but since the package contained two pounds of cocaine, he got handcuffs instead, police say.
Police arrested two city men Friday after they accepted a package from San Juan, Puerto Rico, at 26 Hadley Mills Road that contained more than two pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $75,000, Police Chief Anthony R. Scott said Monday.
Diaz, 38, of 266 Essex St., and Jean Carlos Hornedo 26, of 527 Bridge St., each was charged with trafficking cocaine over 200 grams and conspiracy to violate drug laws, he said.
At their arraignment Monday, they pleaded innocent. Diaz was held on $7,500 bail, and Hornedo was held on $25,000 bail, Scott said.
Diaz complained to the carrier who made the Express Mail delivery in the Flats Neighborhood that he had been waiting for the package all day the day before, Scott said.
“Diaz signed for the package and inquired about a refund for having to wait all day the day before,” Scott said. Diaz took the package inside the building and along with Hornedo was arrested, he said.
Holyoke Police Lt. David R. Pratt, commander of the Narcotics-Vice Division, received a call Wednesday about the package from U.S. Postal Service inspectors. The return address on the package was an invalid address in San Juan. Holyoke Detective Anthony M. Brach began working with postal inspectors, he said.
Authorities received a federal search warrant, opened the package and found cocaine. The package was resealed and delivered, he said.
Police worked the case with state police, the Hampden County Drug Task Force, the FBI, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshall Service, along with postal inspectors, he said.