From February through October of 2005, the mysterious packages arrived from Calexico via United Parcel Service to 404 E. Merced St. in Avenal.

The nondescript packages -- often addressed to Daniel Vasquez, but occasionally with the intended recipient's name simply left off entirely -- would come several times a week for a month straight.

However, sometimes, months would go by before another one arrived.

At least 15 such parcels had made it through before an informant tipped off UPS Investigator Mark Thompson as to the packages' illicit contents.

For a time, all was quiet.

Then, one December day, with the 2005 holiday season in full swing, Thompson contacted Investigator Steve Stryd of the Kings County Narcotics Task Force.

Another parcel from Calexico was scheduled for delivery at the Merced Street address on Dec. 13.

On the appointed date, Stryd, with his narcotics detection dog, Gunner, by his side, headed down to UPS's Visalia hub.

The hub is where packages designated for Tulare and Kings County residents are processed before a driver safely delivers them to their ultimate destination.

As Stryd removed the Spanish language newspaper stuffed in the package, he came across a basket containing a seemingly innocuous collection of soaps and lotions wrapped in cellophane.

The toiletries stood on a Styrofoam insert, which, to the casual onlooker, gave the appearance that the package was full to the brim with toiletries, and nothing more.

Hidden beneath the insert were more than 115 grams of methamphetamine, along with a supply of powder cocaine.

An investigation revealed that "Daniel Vasquez" was actually Miguel Trelles, the ring leader in what authorities have called one of the largest drug smuggling operations Avenal has ever seen.

A known member of an Avenal gang, Trelles, 20, was receiving the packages at his home.

Through a complicated web of networks, the gang distributed and sold the meth -- along with marijuana and cocaine -- throughout the area.

Trelles eventually pleaded no contest to various drug charges, and in November 2005, a judge sentenced him to 14 years in prison.

The case, authorities said, is a classic example of how methamphetamine is intimately connected to crime, and can quickly infiltrate an otherwise peaceful community.

The tie between gangs and drugs, experts say, is as strong as ever.

"I have yet to see a gang that does not have some kind of drug connection," said Sgt. Dave Robinson of the Kings County Gang Task Force. "Any gang will usually have some type of income, and it's not usually a legitimate form of income."

With gangs, Robinson said, it's all about status.

"Gangs must portray it as we have cars, we have women, we have music CDs. We have stereo equipment, we have flashy clothes," he said.

Even after a large bust, keeping up with sales of methamphetamine -- and other drugs -- can be a losing battle when it comes to gangs, said Robinson.

"Usually you do a big bust like (the Trelles bust) ... You've cut off their supply for a little bit until somebody else steps up," he said. "It doesn't take long for things to pick up again and for (users) to find a new source."

Sgt. Rusty Stivers of the Kings County Narcotics Task Force said that in 2003, the task force made 159 meth-related arrests, and seized 108 pounds of the drug, valued at an estimated $3.9 million on the street.

According to Sheriff's Department data, that same year saw a 26 percent increase in larceny cases, and a 31 percent increase in robberies from the year before.

Assaults also increased by 32 percent, but burglaries did experience a slight dip of 10 percent.

These numbers do not include the cities of Hanford, Corcoran or Lemoore, which keep their own statistics.

However, the statistics do not always correlate so neatly.

In 2005, Hanford Police saw a 31 percent increase in meth-related crimes, but theft crimes dropped 13 percent.

Capt. David Scott of the Hanford Police Department said that may be explained by the developing trend in identity theft crimes.

"A lot of the crimes that we're seeing now are identity theft-type cases, and with a lot of people involved in drugs, that is the kind of crime they have turned to," he said. "It's easier, and there's less chance of getting caught than going into somebody's residence."

In 2005, the Federal Trade Commission saw 685,000 consumer fraud and identity theft complaints, up from 542,656 in 2003, and 653,040 in 2004.

This rise in complaint rates correlates with a climb in methamphetamine seizures.

In 2005, The Drug Enforcement Agency reported seizing more than 2,161 kg of the drug, up from 1,659 the year before.

Scott said identity thieves will often raid trash in the hopes of finding credit card numbers or other personal information.

From there, they'll make online purchases, and return the items to the store for cash.

"There's all different schemes they use to steal people's identity, and it's just a constant battle," said Scott. Hopefully, eventually the punishment will increase to make it where it's more of a deterrent."

However, most often, meth users simply steal the identities of friends or families to pay for their next hit, Scott said.

According to the FTC, approximately 9.6 percent of identity theft victims reported that a family member was the perpetrator of the crime.

Obtaining information about family members is easy for would-be identity thieves, said Scott. The thief already has access to much of the information he or she needs to carry out the theft, and the information he or she doesn't have is easily obtainable.

The best defense, said Scott, is to shred all sensitive documents, and be aware of who has access to your personal information.

"Users don't have a conscience," he said. "They're more concerned about being able to get that drug, and they're not as concerned about what it's doing to the relationship between them and family and friends."

The reporter can be reached at 582-0471, ext. 3062.

(Sept. 24, 2007)