Heroin Bust Snares Two Fairbanks Newcomers

A package delivery turned into a police bust last week when two men allegedly expecting a shipment of drugs received a decoy instead.

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By Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Story Created: Jun 21, 2011 at 9:01 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Jun 21, 2011 at 9:01 AM AKDT

FAIRBANKS — A package delivery turned into a police bust last week when two men allegedly expecting a shipment of drugs received a decoy instead.

Fairbanks police received a phone call Thursday morning from other authorities alerting them to a suspicious package.

A police dog sniffed the package and detected the odor of controlled substances. After obtaining a search warrant, police opened the package, revealing approximately 12 grams of heroin, an ounce of methamphetamine and the travel itineraries of two Arizona men, Eulojio Barrientes, 38, and Cody Chambers, 27. Home remodeling plans also were found.

Fake drugs were placed in the package, which was re-sealed. The package was delivered, with Barrientes and Chambers both present to receive it. An electronic monitoring device revealed the men opened the package 10 minutes after receiving it.

Investigators then entered the home where the two men were staying and found Barrientes and Chambers in a locked bedroom at the rear of the house. Police allegedly found a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and notes indicating the sale of drugs.

Barrientes’s hands reportedly tested positive under a black light for theft-detection powder put inside the box, while Chambers’ did not. Police found the opened packages in the bathroom, but the fake drugs were reportedly missing. Police believe Barrientes flushed them down the toilet before police entered.

Chambers allegedly admitted being an occasional user of methamphetamines and that he had flown to Fairbanks five days before receiving the package. Chambers said he was sleeping while Barrientes received the package, despite police reports that he was present at the time of receipt.

Two other people in the house were interviewed and reportedly admitted purchasing drugs from Barrientes. One of them also reportedly admitted buying the shotgun for Barrientes, who has a prior felony conviction and is therefore unable to legally purchase or possess firearms.

Barrientes and Chambers were arraigned Saturday on a variety of felony charges.

Barrientes was charged with one count of misconduct involving a controlled substance in the second degree, one count of misconduct involving a controlled substance in the third degree, one count of misconduct involving weapons in the second degree and one count of tampering with physical evidence.

Chambers was charged with one count of misconduct involving a controlled substance in the second degree and one count of misconduct involving a controlled substance in the third degree.

Contact News-Miner intern Andrew Sheeler at 459-7544.

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