In a significant bust this week, California law enforcement intercepted an estimated $800,000 worth of cocaine during a routine traffic stop, officials announced.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), a canine officer from the Central Division flagged down a 2025 Honda CR-V in Merced County on August 12 for a suspected traffic infraction.
As the investigation proceeded, the officer noticed numerous signs hinting at potential criminal conduct, as reported by the CHP.
Upon conducting a thorough search, officers allegedly discovered a bag containing roughly 30 pounds of what is believed to be cocaine, with its street price projected at $817,200, according to CHP statements.
The California Highway Patrol’s swift action resulted in the confiscation of approximately 30 pounds of suspected cocaine, valued at an estimated $817,200, during a traffic enforcement operation in Merced County. (California Highway Patrol)
The driver was arrested and booked into the Merced County Main Jail on charges of possession of cocaine for sale and transportation of cocaine across non-contiguous counties, according to authorities.
The Merced Area Gang Narcotics Enforcement Team (MAGNET) is handling the investigation.
The seizure comes after federal authorities last month uncovered more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine hidden beneath the floorboards of a commercial truck entering the U.S. from Mexico, marking one of the largest drug busts in Southern California this year.
FEDS SEIZE $6.4M WORTH OF COCAINE ABOARD OIL TANKER AT PORT OF LOS ANGELES, ARREST SUSPECTED CARTEL SMUGGLER
A California Highway Patrol officer stopped a 2025 Honda CR-V for an alleged traffic violation before allegedly discovering $817,200 worth of suspected cocaine inside the vehicle. (California Highway Patrol)
According to the Justice Department, more than a half-ton of cocaine was discovered concealed in the floorboards of a truck and flatbed trailer at the Calexico Port of Entry along the California-Mexico border. Authorities estimated the cocaine had a street value exceeding $20 million.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also announced last month that officers discovered more than $3.7 million worth of cocaine concealed in a shipment of cucumbers.
CHP said an officer discovered a bag containing approximately 30 pounds of suspected cocaine after searching an SUV during an Aug. 12 traffic stop. (California Highway Patrol)
CBP officers at the Pharr International Bridge in Texas discovered 112 packages inside a tractor-trailer after a canine inspection and nonintrusive imaging scan detected anomalies in the vehicle.
The packages contained a total of 278.88 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $3,723,654, according to CBP.