A routine Uber Eats delivery in New Jersey took an unexpected turn when a driver discovered her supposed food delivery was actually an ounce of marijuana disguised as a burrito.
The incident has prompted an investigation by Washington Township Police.
The Uber Eats driver had picked up the package on Friday night in Lindenwold, Camden County, believing it contained a typical meal of a burrito, soup, and water bottle.
However, as she drove towards Glassboro, she noticed a strong, unmistakable odour emanating from the bag. “She believed something didn’t smell right with her delivery package. She thought it smelled like marijuana,” Washington Township Police Chief Patrick Gurcsik said, as reported by 6abc.
Acting on her suspicion, the driver pulled over and contacted the authorities.
Upon inspection, police discovered that the tin-foil-wrapped item was not food but rather a large zip-closed bag of raw marijuana. “There was no meat, or lettuce or beans or rice. It was actually an ounce of marijuana,” Gurcsik explained, according to the New York Post.
Images shared by the police showed the drugs crudely wrapped to resemble a meal. Investigators suspect the perpetrators may have used Uber’s package delivery feature, which is strictly prohibited from transporting illegal substances, alcohol, or medication.
An Uber spokesperson called the incident “deeply disturbing” and commended the driver for contacting local authorities, urging other drivers to report any suspicious deliveries. Washington Township Police have since taken the drugs into evidence and launched a probe to trace their origin.
This isn’t the first time such an incident has occurred. Over the summer, another Uber driver reported being asked to deliver fraudulent gift cards, indicating a trend of misusing delivery services for illicit purposes. Authorities have not yet filed charges in the case but are advising users of delivery services to remain vigilant.