The hot Texas sun helped Denton police foil an attempt to deliver 13 pounds of marijuana Thursday afternoon and arrest two men who were expecting the package.

Capt. Lenn Carter said Friday a commercial mail carrier received a tip that a large amount of marijuana was being shipped to an Aubrey home for repackaging and resale in Denton. The company contacted Denton narcotics officers.

“They called out a K-9 unit, and the dog hit on the suspected package,” Carter said. “With the sun so hot, it was really bringing out the odor of the marijuana. One of our officers pretended to be a courier and knocked on the door of the house in Aubrey. He asked if they were expecting a package, and they confirmed they were.”

As soon as the men took possession of the package, they were arrested for possession of more than 5 pounds, but less than 50 pounds, of marijuana.

Evidence at that house led to a house in Denton, where the officers found another 3.1 ounces of marijuana. Rigoberto Berrones, 35, and Benito Juarez, 29, both were being transferred to Denton County Jail on Friday afternoon.

“Someone else was supposed to pick it up from the house in Aubrey, and he was going to sell it in Denton,” Carter said.

Benito Juarez

Rigoberto Berrones

The case will be turned over to federal authorities, who will trace the package, he said. The senders had attached a return address in the Midwest.

“There was no doubt when you smelled it what was in that package,” Carter said. “They apparently didn’t count on our hot Texas sun.”

DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com.