SPRINGFIELD - It was a week before Christmas and Jesus Merced was expecting a package from Puerto Rico.

"I almost missed you," Merced told the mail carrier before signing for the package in West Springfield on Dec. 17, according to the arrest report.

Moments later, West Springfield police seized the package and arrested Merced on a drug trafficking charge.

Two balls of cocaine, totaling approximately 500 grams and wrapped in black tape, were concealed in the package, Assistant District Attorney Cary Szafranski said on Dec. 18 during Merced's arraignment in Springfield District Court.

The arrest came after an undercover postal inspector driving a mail truck pulled into an auto body shop at 11 Lowell Ave. in West Springfield; Merced had been waiting there in a Cadillac and was about to drive away when the mail carrier arrived, the prosecutor said.

Leaving the Cadillac running, Merced approached the truck and asked for mail addressed to Jose Pagan, the name written on the package. After identifying himself as Jose Pagan and signing for the package, he began walking back to his car when police arrested him, Szafranski said.

The prosecutor asked for $250,000 bail, citing the quantity of drugs seized as well as Merced's criminal history. In addition to a manslaughter conviction, he is out on bail in an open case and has defaulted on past court appearances, Szafranski said.

Judge William Boyle revoked his release in the open case and set bail at $250,000 on the new charges.

He continued the case to Jan. 15.