Over $2.1M worth of narcotics seized on I-5 in Fresno County, CHP says
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – A California Highway Patrol officer in Fresno County discovered over $2.1 million worth of narcotics during a traffic stop earlier this month, officials announced on Thursday.
According to CHP, on Sept. 6 a central division sergeant seized approximately 235 pounds of crystal methamphetamine during a traffic stop on Interstate 5 in Fresno County.
CHP says that a sergeant conducted an enforcement stop on a 2024 Chrysler Pacifica for a traffic violation. The stop occurred on northbound Interstate 5 at Russell Avenue in Fresno County. As the vehicle came to a stop, the driver immediately exited and fled on foot, according to CHP.
The driver headed into an orchard just east of their location. An additional CHP central division officer and canine officer were in the area and arrived to assist with the incident.
CHP says with the assistance of additional CHP, Los Banos ground units and Fresno County Sheriff's Office Air Operations (Air 1), an extensive search was conducted of the surrounding area; however, the suspect was not located. While conducting a search of the Chrysler, CHP says the sergeant located approximately 107 packages of suspected narcotics.
The narcotics were transported to the Fresno High Impact Investigations Team (HIIT) Headquarters, where a preliminary test and weight were obtained.
According to CHP, random samples of the narcotics were tested and all tested positive for methamphetamine. The combined weight of the methamphetamine was approximately 235 pounds.
CHP says the suspect faces charges of suspicion of possession of methamphetamine for sale, transportation of methamphetamine across noncontiguous counties, and resisting arrest.
