A speeding violation led to a 42 pound drug haul for Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Salazar Oct. 13.
When he stopped a vehicle on I-40 at Mile Marker 20, he noticed the statements given by the driver and the passenger were inconsistent. That led him to ask for consent to search the vehicle, which he received.
Salazar found 42 pounds of methamphetamine and a gun.
Three men were arrested. They are: Martin Cabrera-Villa, 31, of Tijuana, Mexico; José Marquez, 20, of Indio, Calif.; and Joseph Barrera, 32, of Brawley, Calif.
All three face charges of trafficking a controlled substance by possession, with intent to distribute (methamphetamine) and unlawful carrying of a firearm.
Cabrera-Villa also faces charges out of Oregon for trafficking methamphetamine and heroin.
"It's incredible what's moving down our interstate at any given time. I'm glad this load of meth didn't make [it] into the hands of our community or any other community for that matter." Undersheriff James Maiorano III said.
