Alton police seize 65 pounds of cocaine

ALTON — Alton police seized about 65 pounds of cocaine after a traffic stop Thursday night, Assistant Chief Enrique Sotelo said.

Police arrested two suspects after seizing about 30 kilograms of the drug from a Ford pickup truck. Officers have not released the suspects’ names and were still determining charges Friday morning.

An Alton officer pulled over the truck about 6 p.m. near the junction of Moorefield Drive and West Mile 5 when the officer was unable to see the vehicle’s license plate, Sotelo said. The officer requested a canine unit from the Mission Police Department because the driver appeared unusually nervous.

The police dog then led officers to a built-in toolbox in the back of the truck, where they discovered six bundles of cocaine, Sotelo said. The drugs weighed in at just over 65 pounds, or about 30 kilograms.

Once the toolbox was open revealing the cocaine, the driver took responsibility and asked that his wife — who was riding in the passenger seat — not be charged, Sotelo said.

The driver will likely face drug possession charges with intent to distribute, the chief said. Officers are still determining the distance of the bust to a nearby school zone, which could add to the charges.

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Nick Pipitone covers McAllen, PSJA, the Mid-Valley and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4446.