$900K In Cocaine Seized From UPS Packages Shipped To NYC

NEW YORK CITY— Three people face charges after investigators seized 30 kilograms of cocaine from UPS packages shipped from California to Brooklyn and Manhattan, according to the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor.

The cocaine, weighing more than 66 pounds and valued at about $900,000, turned up in three packages during two investigations in July, according to prosecutors.

Authorities arrested Joshua Vargas, 35, Tyrone Watts, 35, and Ines Zouiche, 36.

The first investigation began after a police dog flagged two suspicious packages at a UPS facility in Queens, according to prosecutors.

Investigators found 19 kilograms of cocaine inside the packages, which were addressed to a building in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

An undercover officer posing as a UPS driver later encountered Vargas outside the building and asked whether one of the packages belonged to him.

Vargas claimed it did, although prosecutors said the package bore another person's name.

Authorities arrested Vargas on charges that include criminal possession of a controlled substance and attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance.

In a separate investigation, authorities intercepted another package shipped from California containing 11 kilograms of cocaine.

The package was bound for a UPS Store in Manhattan's Kips Bay neighborhood.

Investigators watched Zouiche pick up the package inside the Third Avenue store and arrested her after she left, according to prosecutors.

They also recovered what prosecutors described as a forged Delaware driver's license.

Before Zouiche entered the store, investigators spotted Watts circling the block in a car, according to prosecutors.

After Zouiche's arrest, authorities stopped Watts and recovered $4,000 in cash, a vial containing cocaine and two additional forged licenses, prosecutors said.

Two children were inside the vehicle.

Watts and Zouiche face charges that include criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a forged instrument.

The cases highlight a method authorities report traffickers are using to move large quantities of cocaine into the City through ordinary delivery networks.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan said cocaine supplies in the City are increasing and warned that cocaine can contain fentanyl and other synthetic drugs, increasing the risk to users.