Troopers from the Texas Department of Public safety took a man into custody on July 21 after allegedly discovering 61 pounds of liquid methamphetamine in his SUV during a routine traffic stop. According to media reports, the drugs were concealed in one-liter wine bottles. The 32-year-old Maryland resident has been charged with drug possession with the intent to distribute and is being held at the Randall County Jail.
Traffic stop escalates after driver consents to search
The events unfolded on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 near Conway in Carson County at about 3:19 p.m. The DPS trooper involved says that he ordered a Chevrolet SUV to pull over after observing a motor vehicle violation. The trooper claims that he was given permission to search the SUV after becoming suspicious while interviewing the driver. After noticing the wine bottles, the trooper arranged for the SUV and its driver to be transported to a nearby law enforcement facility. Chemical tests that identified the substance inside the bottles as liquid methamphetamine were ordered after a K9 unit allegedly alerted while sniffing the vehicle.
Case turned over to the DEA
The alleged discovery of the liquid methamphetamine prompted the DPS to contact the Drug Enforcement Administration for assistance. Media accounts suggest that the DEA has now taken over control of the investigation. According to the DPS, the man was transporting the methamphetamine from California to the nation’s capital when he was pulled over.
Remaining silent and refusing consent to search
Criminal suspects often make life extremely easy for police officers and prosecutors by making unprompted admissions or consenting to warrantless searches. Experienced criminal law attorneys would likely advise individuals being questioned or detained by police officers to remain silent, ask for a lawyer and refuse requests to search their property without a warrant. Attorneys could also point out that simply refusing to allow a search does not give police officers probable cause to obtain a search warrant.