West Hollywood, Calif. – A pet grooming business owner in West Hollywood was left stunned after receiving a parcel filled with marijuana worth an estimated $10,000, which had mysteriously been shipped back to his store months after being sent abroad.
Package Returns After Months in Transit
On Thursday, Paul Leonard, owner of the Collar Club, a members-only social club and grooming business for dogs located in the 8400 block of West Hollywood, intercepted a package that had been unexpectedly returned to his business.
When Leonard opened it, he discovered the contents were not business-related but nearly two and a half pounds of marijuana.
“Why would a members-only social club for dog owners get two and a half pounds of weed?” Leonard said. “It was sent from our store three months ago… and it spent three months covering the globe, coming right back here.”
Deputies Called to the Scene
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was contacted and took possession of the drugs. Detectives are now working to trace where the package originated.
Leonard said at first he thought the delivery was a prank, especially since it arrived while customers and pets were in the store.
“We had clients in our store, dogs getting groomed, people having coffee, and others sitting in our dog parks. It was kind of embarrassing,” Leonard explained.
Value of the Drugs
Authorities estimated the marijuana’s street value at about $10,000, although the exact weight of the recovered drugs has not been released.
How Drug Smuggling Schemes Work
According to narcotics investigators, drug traffickers sometimes ship packages to random business or residential addresses, planning to intercept them before the addressee notices. In this case, however, the scheme unraveled when Leonard opened the box and immediately turned it over to deputies.
Ongoing Investigation
Detectives are continuing to investigate the incident, working to determine where the package was shipped from and whether it was part of a larger trafficking operation.
Conclusion
What began as a routine package delivery ended in a surprising discovery at a West Hollywood dog grooming business. With deputies now handling the evidence, investigators are trying to unravel the unusual trail that brought the marijuana-filled parcel back to the Collar Club.
What would you have done if a mysterious package like this arrived at your door? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
