On February 19, 2024, Moorhead Police Narcotics Detective A. Torgerson was contacted by Fargo Police Narcotics Detective B. Witte regarding a suspicious package being sent via FedEx. The package was currently at the FedEx store in Fargo, North Dakota. Det. Witte was informed that FedEx believed the package, which originated from the State of California, contained narcotics. The package was addressed to Taha Abdullah [DOB REDACTED](hereniafter "Abdullah") at [ADDRESS REDACTED], [APT REDACTED] in the City of Moorhead, County of Clay, State of Minnesota.
FedEx Security Director M. Ross informed Det. Witte that per the FedEx administrative policy, the package was opened. Upon opening the package, FedEx employees found four layers of boxes separated by layers of apparent spray foam, a single "brick" was also found, leading FedEx to contact law enforcement. Law enforcement arrived at the FedEx store and observed the brick, which was suspected to be cocaine. Fargo Police Narcotics Detective A. Gossen conducted a field test on a small portion of the substance, which yielded a positive result for cocaine.
The brick weighed 2.76 pounds (1,250 grams). Det. Torgerson researched the name listed as the sender on the package, "William Joseph Holst," and found a Minnesota driver's license for William Joseph Holst with a listed address of [ADDRESS REDACTED]. Mahtomedi, MN 5115. Det. Torgerson also researched Abdullah's name and address and found a Minnesota driver's license for Abdullah, which showed an address of [ADDRESS REDACTED], 306 in Moorhead, MN. Det. Torgerson learned that Abdullah was the only name on the lease for [ADDRESS REDACTED]. #306 in Moorhead, MN. On February 19, 2024, Det.
Torgerson obtained a search warrant for Abdullah's person, residence and assigned garage. On February 20, 2024, Det. Torgerson took approximately 116 grams of the suspected cocaine seized from the above mentioned package and packaged it in a cardboard box, using the original address label from the box. During the morning hours of February 20, 2024, a controlled delivery of the package was organized. During the delivery, a Moorhead Police Narcotics Detective dressed as a FedEx employee and delivered the package to [ADDRESS REDACTED]. [APT REDACTED] in Moorhead.
Abdullah opened the door and was asked for his name, to which he responded "Taha." Abdullah then took possession of the package. A few minutes after the delivery, law enforcement executed the search warrant at Abdullah's apartment. During the search, Det. Torgerson located the package in a bedroom closet. Abdullah was exiting that bedroom when law enforcement made entry. The package was taken back to the Law Enforcement Center and the 116 grams of cocaine was recovered. Law enforcement also found 3.82 pounds of a substance that field tested positive for marijuana, a Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun and shotgun ammunition during the execution of the search warrant.
