6 pounds of marijuana seized at Hudson post office

• Det. Sgt. Eric Atkinson with the seized marijuana packages

Det. Sgt. Eric Atkinson said the marijuana seized in the bust last Friday is of high quality. Each of the six bags seized weighed about a pound and resembled dried broccoli heads. The street value of the marijuana is estimated between $10,000-12,000. Photo by Meg Heaton

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Two Hudson men face felony drug charges for something that came in the mail.

Hudson police arrested the two in the parking lot of the Hudson post office, 808 Heggen Street, last Friday afternoon just after they picked up two packages, each containing three pounds of marijuana.

According to Det. Sgt. Eric Atkinson, a postal employee became suspicious because of the smell emanating from the boxes and U.S. postal inspectors were called in. The inspectors searched the packages and allegedly found two carry-on size suitcases, each filled with three plastic bags with about a pound of marijuana in each. On Thursday, the inspectors notified Hudson police and a plan was set in motion.

The post office contacted the two men Friday and told them their packages were available for pick up. Police were waiting in the parking lot. The men arrived at the post office around 2 p.m. One of them went in and retrieved both packages. As the man was putting the boxes in the trunk of his car, police moved in and arrested them both.

One man was taken to jail and questioned. The second man was taken to his residence and interrogated there. The men’s names will not be released until charges are filed. Atkinson said the investigation is continuing and that charges will likely be filed in the next week or so. Neither man has any significant prior criminal record. The marijuana will be sent to the Wisconsin crime lab in Wausau for testing. Atkinson said that the marijuana was of very high quality and has a street value of approximately $10,000-12,000.

Assisting in the arrest with Atkinson was HPD Chief Marty Jensen and two other officers, a St. Croix County Sheriff’s deputy and three postal inspectors.

Atkinson said the bust netted the largest amount of marijuana seized in Hudson in recent years.

Tags: crime and courts, post office, news, marijuana