Tiffin man faces drug charges after cocaine intercepted

A Tiffin man faces felony charges after a drug investigation found that a package containing 490 grams — a little over a pound — of cocaine was set to be delivered to his apartment, authorities said.

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According to Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel and a criminal complaint, a U.S. postal inspector working on an ongoing narcotics investigation intercepted a package addressed to the Tiffin apartment of Juan Daniel Lopez, 36. A warrant was obtained to open the package, and a white powder was found in a plastic bag inside — which tested positive for cocaine.

Acting on search warrants for Lopez’s home and car, authorities said they discovered five firearms, several boxes of ammunition, two digital scales with drug residue and numerous packaging materials they said were consistent with drug distribution. Another firearm was seized from Lopez’s car.

Lopez was arrested Friday and faces a Class B felony charge of a controlled substance violation and a Class D felony charge of failure to affix a tax stamp. He was being held Saturday in the Johnson County Jail.

The case was being investigated by the Johnson County Drug Task Force with assistance from the United States Postal Inspector and the Muscatine County Drug Task Force.