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May 24, 2006 5:59 pm US/Eastern
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Postal Carrier Arrested In Undercover Drug Bust
by Robin Rieger
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Philadelphia police arrested a postal carrier Wednesday after police discovered she was using her postal uniform as a cover to pick-up and deliver drugs for her husband.
Elizabeth Santiago, who has been a postal service worker for 16-years, and her husband Jose Rodriguez Berrios were arrested and charged with possession and intent to deliver bulk cocaine.
Police said Santiago was acting as a courier, delivering the drugs in her postal uniform after-hours.
"It's our belief that the husband was using his wife's employment as a postal worker as cover in delivering illegal narcotics," said Philadelphia Police Captain Chris Werner.
While Santiago did not use her mail truck during the deliveries, authorities said she was able to avoid suspicion for some time.
"A police officer on patrol is not going to think that a postal carrier is delivering cocaine," added Werner.
Undercover officers had been watching the couple for weeks and made the arrest after making two buys near 7th and Indiana.
"He would direct his wife, who was in full uniform, to either procure the cocaine from a residence or car and then deliver the cocaine to him," Werner said.
Police do not believe the woman was dealing these drugs near her mail route around 20th and Montgomery Streets.
A second unrelated drug bust was made on North 18th Street. Six people were taken into custody, two of which are currently on probation for murder. Charges are pending.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)