U.S. Drug Agent Arrested in DEA Cocaine Sting
A federal Drug Enforcement Administration agent was arrested in a sting by his own agency after delivering 62 pounds of cocaine to informants at Logan International Airport, authorities said today.
Edward K. O’Brien, 44, who headed the DEA’s Springfield, Mass., office from 1982 to 1988 and is supervisory agent in Fairfax County, Va., was arrested Monday, DEA agent John J. Coleman said.
Investigators said O’Brien had received the drugs in Miami earlier in the day from a DEA informant. O’Brien was paid $14,000 to transport the drug and was expecting another $14,000 on delivery in Boston, officials said.
O’Brien was placed on leave.
Also arrested were O’Brien’s brothers, Paul, 34, and John, 39, both from Cape Cod. They were accused of taking part in the deal.
The DEA alleged that this was the second such delivery. On July 27, while under surveillance, O’Brien picked up 55 pounds of sham cocaine in Miami and took it to Boston, receiving $25,000 from undercover agents, officials said.
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