Dog Sniffs Crack Cocaine In Parcel

Postal inspectors used a drugsniffing dog to detect 175 grams of cocaine in an express mail package that led to the arrest of a Spokane man.

James B. Gross, 36, remained in jail Friday after failing to post a $25,000 surety bond set earlier in the week by U.S. Magistrate Cynthia Imbrogno.

Gross was arrested last week on a federal charge of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

Court documents say that postal inspectors intercepted an express mail parcel addressed to “Jimmy Gray,” at W1230 Sprague. No one with that name lived at that address.

Further prompting suspicion, the parcel emitted an odor similar to detergent or fabric softener, the documents say.

“Mailers of illicit drugs often try to conceal the odor of controlled substances by packing them with masking agents,” Postal Inspector Mike Erdahl said in an affidavit.

Investigators took the still-sealed package to a Spokane police dog, Nina, who is a certified narcotics canine.

“Nina alerted to the suspect parcel, indicating the presence of the odor of a narcotic,” the court documents said.

Based upon those facts, postal inspectors got a search warrant authorizing them to open the parcel. Inside, they found 175 grams of crack cocaine. They installed an electronic tracking device and resealed the package before delivering it.

A man signed for the package, using the name Jimmy Gray.

When the tracking device indicated the package was being opened, agents arrested the recipient and identified him as Gross.