18 pounds of meth seized in traffic stop near Utah, Idaho border

POCATELLO, Idaho (ABC4) — Idaho State Police seized 18 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop near Pocatello, Idaho, on Tuesday.

On July 2, an Idaho trooper was patrolling Interstate 86. The trooper saw a white 2015 Hyundai Genesis with invalid registration and conducted a traffic stop.

The driver — a Tulare, Calif. woman, 23 — reportedly did not have a valid driver’s license. She was accompanied by three others in the vehicle.

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Courtesy of Idaho State Police
Courtesy of Idaho State Police

The trooper found their behavior to be suspicious, noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and observed marijuana products inside. The trooper conducted a vehicle search and found multiple THC vape cartridges, as well as 18 plastic packages of methamphetamine, amounting to around 18 pounds of meth.

The driver was booked into Bannock County Jail on Tracking Methamphetamine, while another Tulare, Calif. woman, 34, was booked on the same charge. The two other occupants of the vehicle — both juvenile males — were booked into the Bannock County Detention Center on Trafficking Illegal Drugs.

“This seizure highlights our unwavering commitment to removing illegal drugs from our communities,” stated Domestic Highway Enforcement (DHE) Canine Sergeant Chris Cottrell. “These dangerous substances pose significant risks to public health and safety, and we remain dedicated to protecting our citizens.”

The DHE team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that “identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency, prosecutor-supported approach,” according to a press release from Idaho State Police.

No further information is available at this time.

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