FORT MYERS, Fla. – A routine package check near the U.S. Postal Service Processing Center on Jetport Loop led to a swift narcotics investigation and the arrest of a local man, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies say the operation uncovered a package filled with illegal pills and prompted a brief facility lockdown as law enforcement secured the scene.
Investigators reported that 27-year-old Daniel Pesantas arrived to pick up the package shortly before he was taken into custody. The incident unfolded near Southwest Florida International Airport, where deputies and postal inspectors had been monitoring the delivery.
Investigators Confirm 30-Minute Facility Lockdown
A USPS spokesperson said the customer service entrance was closed for approximately 30 minutes as a precaution while the package was examined and deputies coordinated the arrest. The spokesperson emphasized that at no point was there any threat to employees or customers.
Inside the building, staff observed a large law enforcement presence. Several postal inspectors and at least six law enforcement vehicles were positioned near the front entrance as the operation unfolded.
How the Suspicious Package Was Identified
According to Sheriff Carmine Marceno, USPS inspectors alerted the Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement when postal workers noticed signs suggesting the package could contain narcotics. A canine unit was brought in, and an open-air sniff indicated the presence of illegal substances.
Sheriff Marceno said this triggered a coordinated response to secure search warrants for both the package and Pesantas’ residence.
In a follow-up interview, he explained investigators are increasingly encountering suspicious shipments paid for with cryptocurrency.
“It does raise a flag of suspicion, and just that alone doesn’t mean something’s wrong with the package,” Sheriff Marceno said. “But once the canine detects narcotics, we know we have to build that investigation from there.”
Arrest Made as Recipient Arrives to Claim Package
Deputies say Pesantas was taken into custody as he arrived at the post office to retrieve the package containing 50 Xanax pills. During the arrest, investigators reported that he was already in possession of narcotics.
The package seizure led deputies to immediately execute the residential search warrant.
Significant Quantities of Pills Found During Home Search
Inside Pesantas’ residence, investigators say they recovered a large assortment of controlled substances, including:
- 260 alprazolam pills
- 28 clonazepam pills
- 19 clonidine hydrochloride pills
- 13 pantoprazole pills
Detectives also noted that records show Pesantas has a prior criminal history involving battery and possession of a controlled substance. Sheriff Marceno added that the suspect had previously received multiple packages under circumstances that raised similar concerns.
Charges Filed Following Multi-Agency Operation
Pesantas now faces:
- Two counts of possession of a controlled substance
- Two counts of possession of a new legend drug
Deputies say this case highlights growing collaboration between USPS inspectors and local law enforcement, especially as criminal activity increasingly intersects with digital payment tools such as cryptocurrency.
Authorities continue to stress the importance of reporting suspicious mail, noting that postal employees played a key role in initiating the investigation.
