Unusual Packages: Small Businesses Targeted by Illicit Drug Shipments
Two Cases of Identity Theft in Drug Trafficking
In San Francisco, owners of small businesses are increasingly confronted with alarming cases where their return addresses are used in drug trafficking schemes. Notable examples include Lauren Legakis, who leads Sockshop Haight Street, and Jamie Alexander, owner of Park Life, both experiencing similar perplexing deliveries.
Legakis’ ordeal began in 2020 when she received a package marked “return to sender.” Inside the envelope was an invoice featuring her store’s logo alongside a pair of uncharacteristic white socks. But the real shock came when she discovered 46 pink pills, estimated by local authorities to be varying doses of amphetamines, intended for illicit distribution.
Recent Developments: Similar Incidents Emerge
Fast forward to September 2024, Legakis encountered a déjà vu as another returned package arrived at her store, containing 12 similar pills along with a misleading invoice. This time, the invoice included a curious message: “Flap flap! Stay Safe ☺,” which left Legakis and her staff baffled.
Alexander’s experience mirrored this unsettling pattern. He recently received a return package with 22 pills, again accompanied by a fake invoice displaying his shop’s branding. “We realized somebody is using our identity to traffic illicit drugs,” he stated, voicing his shock at the apparent targeting of their small businesses.
Law Enforcement Response
Following these incidents, Legakis reported the matter to the San Francisco Police Department, while Alexander opted to contact the United States Postal Inspection Service. Matt Norfleet, a postal inspector, explained that such scenarios often occur when individuals send contraband using local businesses’ addresses as a cover. If undeliverable, these parcels are returned to the unsuspecting businesses.
Norfleet emphasized the risks associated with these drug shipments. “Drugs that may appear to be low-dose amphetamines can, in reality, be lethal,” he warned, highlighting the dangers posed to both the intended buyers and uninvolved individuals exposed to these substances.
A Growing Trend Across the State
Reports indicate that Legakis and Alexander are not alone in this troubling trend. Several other store owners across California have also received similarly structured packages. For instance, Alison Ables, a boutique owner in Los Angeles, received a “return to sender” package containing marijuana, while Daniel Sant from Super 7 encountered packages filled with black tar heroin and marijuana at different instances.
Many of these store owners have attempted to alert local law enforcement but have faced obstacles in getting assistance. Sant reported his attempts to notify the police about the dangerous contents of unidentified packages, only to be told that officers were unavailable to respond.
The Mystery of “Flap flap! Stay Safe ☺”
The origins of the message found on the invoices remain unclear. However, it seems to link to a website, FuzyDuck.com, which sells prescription drugs in bulk. Despite inquiries, the support email associated with the site has not responded.
As this growing issue of drug packages targeting small businesses continues to unfold, the community remains vigilant and concerned about the implications for their safety and reputation.
