Glen Cove police: Intercepted postal package leads to drug arrest

A Glen Head man faces felony drug charges after authorities intercepted a postal package containing narcotics and subsequently seized more than 11 pounds of marijuana, 15 grams of cocaine, and $4,800 in cash from his residence.

Zachary Tayne, 28, was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and first-degree criminal possession of marijuana after Glen Cove police and U.S. Postal Inspectors, along with a Nassau County police K-9 team, served a search warrant at his Rini Road residence, Glen Cove police said.

Tayne was arraigned Tuesday in First District Court in Hempstead. Records show the case was adjourned and that he was released on $25,000 bond. He is due back in court Thursday.

It was unclear if Tayne is represented by counsel. No defense attorney information was on file, according to online court records.

Police said the incident began when authorities intercepted a package “destined for delivery” to Tayne on Monday.

That package contained drugs, police said, and led to the search warrant being issued for the home.

That warrant was executed at about 7 p.m. Monday, leading to the seizure — and to the arrest of Tayne.

“This was a joint investigation between the Glen Cove Police Department and the United States Postal Inspectors Office,” police said in a statement released Tuesday by Glen Cove Det. Lt. John Nagle. “The seizure of the drugs will assure that they will not be distributed to the surrounding community.”

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”