HOLYOKE – Investigators seized $100,000 worth of cocaine early Thursday night that had been hidden inside a hollowed-out hunk of bologna and mailed to an Essex Street address from Puerto Rico.



Holyoke detectives with the department's narcotics and vice division, along with a U.S. Postal Service inspector and agents from the FBI's Gang Task Force and Drug Enforcement Agency, executed a federal warrant and raided 193 Essex St. shortly after 5 p.m., Scott said.



Juan G. Rodriguez, 30, of 193 Essex St., was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine. He was ordered held in lieu of $100,000 cash or $1 million surety bail during his arraignment Friday in District Court.



The investigation began Wednesday after Postal Inspector Brian Dailey contacted Holyoke Police Lt. David R. Pratt regarding a parcel, addressed to man at 193 Essex St. and believed to contain illegal drugs.



Dailey has been working with postal inspectors out of Puerto Rico regarding an ongoing investigation of illegal drugs being shipped from there to various people in the United States.



Postal records revealed that similar packages had been sent to that address in May and June.



When Dailey, working undercover, delivered the parcel to 193 Essex St., it was signed for by a female that had been sitting on the front steps with Rodriguez.



Scott said the suspect immediately took custody of the package and both went inside the house. Police raided the property about 15 minutes later and found the female and the suspect coming down from the attic. The cocaine, which weighed one kilo or 2.2 pounds, has a street value of about $100,000, he said.



Investigators arrested Rodriguez and arrest warrants are being sought for other suspects, Scott said.



"I commend Lieutenant Pratt,Inspector Dailey and all the agents and detectives involved in this operation," Scott said. "This is a clear example of the cooperation which exists between federal, state and local law enforcement working to keep communities safe."



Scott said Rodriguez was charged with assault and battery and threatening to murder in 2008. Both charges were continued without a finding in Springfield District Court.

An innocent plea for Rodriguez was entered in court and he was ordered to return on Sept. 23 for a pre-trial hearing.