A Sitka grand jury has indicted a couple on drug trafficking charges, after federal postal inspectors found a package of crystal meth bearing their address in the mail.
Virgil Leal, 45, and Marisol Carranza, 43, were indicted on Friday for allegedly possessing methamphetamine. The indictment further alleges they intended to deliver the drugs. Both were charged with two felony counts each for misconduct involving a controlled substance.
According to court records, the package, addressed to Carranza, was opened with a federal search warrant after a K-9 indicated the presence of a controlled substance. The package contained nearly 1 ounce of meth. Police estimate its value at $5,600, according to the street value in Sitka.
Records say the package was then delivered to the couple without the majority of the methamphetamine. A warranted police search found the package opened as well as several Western Union receipts. Police also found a meth pipe and multiple empty baggies with a white residue. One of the baggies tested positive for meth.
During a police interview, Leal and Carranza allegedly admitted to sending money to a supplier using Western Union — $600 for this particular package. They also said they had received other methamphetamine packages in the past and sold the drugs to make a profit.
Police say their arrest of Leal and Carranza was the outcome of a joint narcotics investigation with United States Postal Inspectors and Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs Task Force.
Both Leal and Carranza are in police custody.
