Fayette County’s police dog Lobos and his handler on Friday seized during a traffic stop about 15 kilos of cocaine, which is estimated to be worth about $1.6 million, the Fayette County sheriff’s office said Monday.
The drug seizure led to the arrest of the driver, Jose Mendez, who was traveling with his wife and three children, the sheriff’s office said. Mendez was charged with cocaine possession.
Sgt. Randy Thumann stopped a Ford F-150 on Interstate 10 at the 660 mile-marker just after 1 p.m. for a traffic violation, the sheriff’s office said.
“After speaking to the driver about his travel itinerary and observing his raised level of nervousness when speaking about illegal drugs, Sgt. Thumann believed the driver was transporting illegal narcotics from Mexico to Houston,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
According to the sheriff’s office, Thumann was given consent to search the truck. Thumann found the cocaine in a toolbox that was stored in a floor compartment of the truck, officials said.
Mendez’s wife and children were released, and he was taken to the Dan R. Beck Justice Center, officials said.
