FOUR MILLION DOLLARS IN METH DISCOVERED IN FUEL TANK

  

The Fayette County Sheriff’s office discovered over 88 pounds of liquid meth hidden in the fuel tank of a pickup truck on I10.  Sheriff Keith Korenek reports that on Friday December 04, at approximately 1:00 p.m., the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Canine Unit stopped a Dodge 4x4 pickup truck on interstate 10 for a traffic violation.

After contact with the driver was made, several criminal indicators were observed and consent to search the vehicle was obtained. Sgt. Randy Thumann deployed his canine ‘LOBOS” who conducted an exterior sweep of the vehicle and gave a positive alert for the presence of illegal narcotics. There were several indicators that the vehicle was being used to transport illegal narcotics in the fuel tank.

Sgt. Thumann with assistance from DPS Trooper David Ralph and Fayette County Deputy David Smith removed the bed of the truck and accessed the fuel tank of the vehicle.  Sgt. Thumann observed the tank had been altered and had an aftermarket compartment built within the fuel tank. Due to the highly hazardous material used to make meth, Thumann called the DPS MIG Unit, who specializes in meth removal and disposal. Approximately 40 kilograms of liquid meth, with a street value of approximately 4 million dollars, was removed from the compartment.

Rodolfo Hernandez, age 29, and his mother Francisca Hernandez, age 61, both residents of Mexico were arrested and taken to the Fayette County Jail.