A Houston man was apprehended on Sunday after a traffic stop turned up concealed methamphetamine.
According to Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek, about 5:30 p.m., Sergeant Randy Thumann and Investigator David Smith pulled over a car going eastbound on I-10 near Mile Marker 716 in Austin County.
Several evidence of illegal activity were discovered during interaction with the vehicle’s driver and occupants.
Consent to search the vehicle has been obtained. Sergeant Thumann used his canine “Kolt” to undertake an exterior sweep of the vehicle. Kolt informed the authorities about the odor of illegal substances.
During the ensuing check of the vehicle, deputies discovered two suspicious spools of rope in the truck’s bed. Further inspection found that the spools had been changed to hide 42 packages of methamphetamine. The entire weight of the methamphetamine was about 20 kg.
The driver, 57-year-old Mario Aranda Gomez, was arrested and charged with felony methamphetamine possession. He was taken to the Austin County Jail in Bellville without incident.
The Westside Narcotics Task Force and the Austin County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division were dispatched to the area to aid in the investigation.
Based on the circumstances and direction of travel along the Interstate 10 corridor, authorities think the methamphetamine originated in Mexico and was on its way to Houston for distribution.
Authorities said the seizure has caused a considerable disruption in narcotics trafficking activity along important Texas travel corridors.
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