Two Puerto Rico Police Officers Indicted And Arrested For Drug Trafficking

SAN JUAN, P.R. – On December 1^st, 2016, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a two-count indictment against José Reyes-Alicea and Edgardo Meléndez-Silva, a.k.a. “Wong”, for drug trafficking, announced today Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Today’s arrests are the result of an investigation led by the FBI, with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD).

On or about December 14, 2011, the defendants conspired to possess with intent to distribute detectable amounts of cocaine. Both defendants are also charged with carrying firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. At the time of the offense, Reyes-Alicea and Meléndez-Silva were police officers with the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) assigned to the Drugs Division in San Juan.

“We expect police officers to enforce the law and protect our citizens. These two officers broke the trust we placed in them and it is our responsibility to bring them to justice,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Zapata-Valladares is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendants face a minimum sentence of five years up to life in prison.  Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Citizens of Puerto Rico with allegations of law enforcement corruption are encouraged to contact the FBI’s San Juan Division at (787) 754-6000.