HOUSTON MAN ARRESTED AFTER BEING CAUGHT WITH HIDDEN METHAMPHETAMINE
(left) and Investigator David Smith with K-9 Kolt.
(courtesy Fayette Co. Sheriff's Office)
A Houston man was arrested on Sunday after a traffic stop revealed hidden methamphetamine.
Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek reports that around 5:30 p.m., Sergeant Randy Thumann and Investigator David Smith conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling eastbound on I-10 at Mile Marker 716 in Austin County.
Upon contact with the driver and occupants of the vehicle, several indicators of criminal activity were observed.
Consent to search the vehicle was obtained. Sergeant Thumann deployed his canine, “Kolt” to conduct an exterior sweep of the vehicle. Kolt alerted the deputies to the odor of illegal narcotics.
During a subsequent search of the vehicle, deputies located two suspicious spools of rope in the bed of the truck. Further inspection revealed the spools had been modified to conceal 42 bags of methamphetamine. The total weight of the methamphetamine was approximately 20 kilograms.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as 57-year-old Mario Aranda Gomez was placed under arrest and charged with felony possession of methamphetamine. He was transported to the Austin County Jail in Bellville without incident.
The Westside Narcotics Task Force and the Austin County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division were called to the scene to assist with the investigation.
Based on the circumstances and the direction of travel along the Interstate 10 corridor, investigators believe the methamphetamine may have originated from Mexico and was en route to Houston for distribution.
Authorities say the seizure represents a significant disruption to narcotics trafficking activity utilizing major Texas travel corridors.