Pokemon-Themed Drug Trafficking Ring Busted by Law Enforcement

A drug trafficking ring was busted by authorities, where suspects were found to be using Pokemon boxes. This operation took the theft of Pokemon cards to a new level, as in the past, millions of dollars worth of cards were stolen from hobby stores and homes. The Pokemon franchise has become an icon in pop culture, with its video games, TV shows, and merchandise including trading cards and Squishmallow stuffed toys, which are highly sought after by fans worldwide. Unfortunately, valuable and rare items like these often become targets for theft.

Recently, authorities in New Bedford, Massachusetts, uncovered a drug trafficking ring that utilized Pokemon art cases to transport cocaine from Puerto Rico. The operation came to light when United States Postal Service inspectors and New Bedford detectives noticed five suspicious packages delivered to an apartment on Viall Street within the last two months. In response, they tracked the delivery of another package on May 8th. After an undercover postal inspector delivered the mail to the address, authorities apprehended 20-year-old Darren Casado Ruiz and 19-year-old Angel Rodriguez. Upon inspecting the package, officials discovered two yellow heat-sealed plastic Pokemon cases containing two kilograms of cocaine. The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office charged the two suspects with conspiracy to violate the drug law and trafficking in excess of 200 grams of cocaine. District Attorney Tom Quinn lauded the investigators for their "cooperative effort" in taking down the drug trafficking operation and intercepting the cocaine-filled package.

In previous instances, Pokemon has been linked to drug-related cases. Back in 2019, a Florida man who was playing Pokemon GO at 2 am was taken into custody after drugs were discovered in his car. Similarly, last year, a man was caught carrying Pokemon GO and KFC-themed drugs in his vehicle, indicating an attempt to use the game's widespread popularity to mask the criminal activity.

However, in the real world, Pokemon is more commonly associated with wholesome experiences. Fans are known to share the Pokemon they have caught in games, especially the rare ones, as well as their merchandise collections. Additionally, the franchise has inspired family-friendly tourist destinations in various countries and even an entire Las Vegas neighborhood's street names. While the developers have faced criticism for game quality and performance issues, the franchise's popularity remains unaffected.

Source: ABC 6