Lozano arrested, charged with importing drugs by mail

TAMAR BEN-YOSEF

February 15, 2008 at 10:40AM AKST

Police seized 10.9 pounds of marijuana shipped into Barrow on Monday, Feb. 4.

An ongoing criminal investigation led North Slope Borough Police, in collaboration with the Alaska State Troopers and the U.S. Postal Service, to contact and arrest Robert Lozano, 48, of Barrow.

Lozano was charged with fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance.

"Lozano had been a focus of my attention for the past 10 months," said Lt. Leon Boyea of the borough police.

"Ongoing investigations developed information that led us to believe Mr. Lozano was importing drugs through U.S. Mail," he said.

According to police, the drugs seized had a street value of $160,000 – a highly conservative estimate, according to Boyeah.

"It is probably worth more like $175,000-200,000," Boyea said.

Lozano was arrested after postal inspectors in Barrow notified police of a box of suspicious nature shipped into Barrow.

With the help of canine Officer Hershey, a chocolate Lab who joined the police force less than a year ago, officers were able to identify the box as containing suspicious content.

A search warrant was obtained through the federal court in Anchorage since the box was shipped through U.S. mail the case is considered a federal offense – and once opened, investigators discovered the marijuana.

Boyea said this bust is the largest he remembers over the past five years.

Officers performed a controlled delivery of the box and watched as Lozano and a second undisclosed person picked up the package.

Lozano was arrested without incident. More arrests are expected with relation to this case.

Lozano’s bail was set at $50,000. He paid in cash, which was tested for drug residue. Officers confirmed the bills had in fact been in contact with illegal drugs.

The money was consequently seized, and a new bail was set at $100,000.

Due to the nature of this case, a U.S. attorney in Anchorage, not yet appointed, will be involved in the legal process that follows.

Boyea said the Alaska State Troopers and the Postal Service were both instrumental to the success of this case.

Tamar Ben-Yosef can be reached at (907) 348-2419 or toll free at (800) 770-9830, ext. 419.