UPS employees indicted on drug charges in Texas

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Three South Texas residents have been arrested on drug conspiracy charges for their alleged roles in a scheme to use UPS to ship drugs across the country.

The U.S. attorney’s office said Monday that 44-year-old Mario Enrique Patlan; his daughter, 22-year-old Cristina Patlan; and 26-year-old Reymundo Abel Brown Jr. appeared in federal court in Brownsville.

Prosecutors allege that Mario Patlan had credentials as a UPS employee that gave him access to secure areas at airports in Harlingen and McAllen. He and Brown, another UPS employee, were able to smuggle drugs onto planes. Patlan’s daughter allegedly drummed up business among drug traffickers, charging $50 to $100 per pound to fly their drugs out of South Texas.

Victor Ramirez, who represents Cristina Patlan, says his client has pleaded not guilty.

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