Mailed cash in Wichita seized by postal inspectors was $10,650 in suspected drug money

A Kansas postal inspector seized $10,650 in suspected drug money from mail packages in Wichita last week.

Federal search warrant information filed in U.S. District Court detail what led to the cash seizures on Wednesday. Two packages were investigated by aU.S. Postal Service inspector at the post office at 7117 W. Harry.

The first was mailed from a Wichita apartment complex at 952 S. Bleckley Drive, near Lincoln and Oliver, to a post office box in Whittier, California. The 2-pound, 8-ounce parcel cost $52.95 to mail.

The second parcel was mailed from a post office in Coffeyville with a return address near Liberty to an address in Woodlake, California. The 1-pound, 6-ounce package cost $46.20 in postage.

Of the two senders and two receivers, only one of the four was actually affiliated with their address on the mail, according to a law enforcement database. It was the PO box.

The postal inspector brought in a Wichita police K-9 detective, and the dog indicated that both packages smelled of illegal drugs. The inspector then obtained warrants to search for drugs or drug paraphernalia, including money.

When opened up, the package mailed from the Wichita apartment complex contained $6,650 in cash. They found $4,000 inside the other parcel. The property was seized.