1.6 MILLION DOLLARS IN METH SEIZED IN FAYETTE CO.

  

1.6 million dollars in meth was seized by the Fayette County Sheriff’s deputies Monday after a traffic stop on I-10.  Fayette County Sgt. Randy Thumann and his K9 partner “Lobos” stopped a 1999 Ford F250 pickup on I-10 Monday afternoon for a traffic violation.  The driver said he was traveling from El Paso to Atlanta to visit a family member. Several inconsistencies in the driver’s travel itinerary were noted and Sgt. Thumann also observed the driver become extremely nervous when asked about transporting illegal drugs in the vehicle. The driver was asked for consent to search the vehicle and it was given.

Lobos alerted to the vehicle for the presences of illegal narcotics. Deputy David Smith and Sgt. Thumann searched the vehicle and discovered two aftermarket compartments. One compartment was built into the fire wall of the vehicle and the other was built into the A/C system.  Both were lead lined and built to beat any x-ray scanners at the check point and border entry.  A total of approximately 16 kilos of methamphetamine, with an approximate street value of 1.6 million dollars, were removed from the compartments. The driver Fernando Nolasco 50 years of age from El Paso was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1 and transported to the Dan R. Beck Justice Center in La Grange.