Giving the term "white-glove doormen" a new meaning, The New York Post reports today on a drug smuggling ring that came up with the idea to bribe doormen at high-end city buildings to sign for packages containing cocaine. Bad things don't happen at fancy buildings with white-gloved doormen, right? Investigators did, eventually, suspect, and the DEA has now charged two New York men, Lulzim Kupa and Nezer Papraniku, with trafficking cocaine.

The doormen, who allegedly knew what they were doing and presumably got some nice kickbacks for the duty, signed for the packages, and would hold them until they could be picked up by the appropriate owner, even though the owner didn't actually live in the building. 

Kupa, who has reported ties to the Gambino family and an "extensive criminal history," and Papraniku have both pleaded not guilty. Additional arrests may include doormen who cooperated in this scheme. We've reached out to the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York for more information.

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at jdoll at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.
Jen Doll