51 Pounds Of Cocaine Seized In Traffic Stop
Drugs Worth $700,000, Police Say
POSTED: 1:42 pm PST February 27,
2009
UPDATED: 1:52 pm PST February 27,
2009
WOODBURN, Ore. -- Oregon State Police seized about 51 pounds of cocaine and arrested three men during a traffic stop on Interstate 5.An OSP trooper stopped a silver Mazda rental car after the driver swerved out of his lane at about 4 p.m. on Thursday, police said. The trooper said he suspected the driver of being under the influence.A K-9 unit helped in the stop and discovered about $700,000 worth of cocaine -- 51 pounds, police said.Three men were in the car: Joel Lucian Ruelas-Castro, 31, from Mexico; Manuel Alberto Castro Lugo, 38, from Mexico; and Rigo Humberto Lamas-Ponce, 29, from southeast Portland. Police said Lamas-Ponce also goes by the name Ivan Santiago-Mendes.All three men have INS holds and were arrested on charges of unlawful possession, distribution and manufacturing of a controlled substance.Last week, two men were arrested on Interstate 5 south of Canyonville with about 31 pounds of cocaine hidden in their vehicle, police said. The two seizures were unrelated.
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