Republicans file report against Uber for transporting drugs

Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent a letter to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi expressing concern about instances of the company's drivers transporting drug-laced packages. The letter refers to the shipment of fentanyl via company cars.

The four-page letter is signed by representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Gus Bilirakis, Robert E. Latta, H. Morgan Griffith and Brett Guthrie. In it, they took aim at the operation of Uber Connect, an option in the app that allows items to be sent to other people.

"We write with great concern about the use of Uber Connect to transport illicit and deadly substances, including fentanyl," the text begins. He adds, "This new and innovative method for transporting goods (...) can be exploited by bad actors looking to ship illegal or harmful products to unsuspecting Americans, including children."

In that regard, the Republicans refer to the case of Alex Portillo, a 22-year-old woman who earlier this year died from fentanyl intoxication: the drug had come into the victim's hands through Uber Connect.

Uber's reply

In response, an Uber spokesperson replied to the complainants and said that the company's guidelines prohibit the use of the app for any kind of illegal activity. He even pointed out that drivers are never penalized when they decide to cancel a trip because they suspect that the package includes an illicit substance.

In any case, the spokeswoman made it clear that the company will investigate alleged criminal activities and will work to try to prevent them. Products considered illegal and not allowed to be shipped via Uber Connect include alcohol, medicines, drugs, weapons and dangerous goods.