What started as a routine traffic stop on Interstate 40 near Kingman last week ended with nearly 450 pounds of cocaine off the streets and two people in custody.
An Arizona Department of Public Safety canine trooper pulled over a white Toyota minivan traveling eastbound for civil traffic violations. During the stop, the trooper observed signs of criminal activity and conducted a search of the vehicle. Hidden beneath rugs in the trunk were numerous tightly wrapped packages that tested positive for cocaine — 447 pounds in total, carrying an estimated street value of $12.1 million.
Both the driver and a passenger were arrested and booked into Mohave County Jail on charges of transporting a narcotic drug for sale and possession of drug paraphernalia. Authorities have not publicly identified either individual.
The seizure is a reminder of the significant volume of narcotics that continues to move through Arizona’s interstate corridors — and of the role that trained canine units and observant troopers play in intercepting shipments before they reach their destinations.
