California Highway Patrol (CHP) made a significant drug seizure recently when a Central Division canine officer conducted a traffic stop in Merced County. The officer stopped a 2025 Honda CR-V on August 12 due to an alleged traffic violation.
During the stop, the officer noticed signs that pointed to potential criminal activity. A subsequent search led to the discovery of a bag containing about 30 pounds of suspected cocaine. This amount was estimated to have a street value of $817,200, according to the CHP.
CHP officers seized approximately 30 pounds of suspected cocaine with a street value of $817,200 during the traffic stop.
The driver was arrested and taken to the Merced County Main Jail. They faced charges of possession of cocaine for sale and transporting cocaine across non-contiguous counties, as stated by authorities. The Merced Area Gang Narcotics Enforcement Team (MAGNET) is currently investigating the case.
This incident follows another recent major cocaine seizure by federal authorities. Last month, over 1,000 pounds of cocaine were found hidden under the floorboards of a commercial truck crossing from Mexico into Southern California. The cocaine was valued at over $20 million, highlighting one of the year’s largest drug busts in the area.
Additionally, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported discovering more than $3.7 million worth of cocaine hidden within a shipment of cucumbers. At the Pharr International Bridge in Texas, CBP officers uncovered 112 packages, totaling 278.88 pounds of cocaine. A canine inspection and nonintrusive scan identified inconsistencies in a tractor-trailer, leading to the discovery.
Reported by Fox News Digital’s Leo Briceno.