Two parcels containing more than a combined 45 pounds of marijuana meant for a Graniteville address were intercepted by postal investigators this week, but not before multiple attempts were made to deliver the illegal narcotics.

The packages were intercepted and then searched by postal authorities after a warrant was issued by a federal magistrate judge Tuesday. The packages, according to documents, contained separate bales of marijuana weighing 22 and 24 pounds, respectively.

They were both heading to Manuel Ramirez, 115 Park Place St,, Graniteville, and seemingly would have reached him had someone been home to sign for them.

Affidavits for search warrants were sworn out on Monday, five days after the parcels were seized. The affidavits contained the tracking numbers to identify the packages. When these are entered into the U.S. Postal Service's website, it shows that multiple attempts were made to deliver one parcel and a single attempt on the other days before.

The Web tracking service shows that both packages were taken to the Graniteville address and that a notice was left. The parcels, sent insured, were never collected.

The packages were sent from California with return addresses of Brawley and Calexico, Calif., both of which are smaller towns close to the border with Mexico.

According to search warrant applications, overnighting quantities of illegal narcotics via the USPS is a common practice.

Distributors specifically use the federal postal service, as opposed to private companies, because a search warrant is required to inspect packages in transit.

In both cases, a drug- sniffing dog was used to identify the contents of the parcels.

Contact Mike Gellatly at mgellatly@aikenstandard.com.