Traffic Stop Leads San Gabriel Cops To 60 Pounds Of Meth

WEST COVINA, CA -- A routine traffic stop by officers in West Covina has led to the discovery of approximately 60 pounds of methamphetamine found underneath a vehicle's driver seat, a police sergeant said Sunday.

Officers pulled over a silver 2010 Nissan Rouge for a vehicle code violation at 7:20 p.m. Saturday at Vincent Avenue and the San Bernardino (10) Freeway and found the drugs under the driver's seat of the car, said West Covina police Sgt. Tim Rodgers.

"The driver was detained and a narcotic detection K-9 was summoned to the scene," Rodgers said. "The K-9 alerted on the vehicle, leading the officers to believe there was additional methamphetamine in the vehicle."

The Nissan was impounded and brought back to the police station, where additional methamphetamine was located in two hidden compartments, which included a space under the front passenger seat, he said.

Pedro Lopez, 28, of Paramount was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine for sale and transporting narcotics in a hidden compartment. His bail was set at $1 million, he said.

"K-9 Rye is the department's newest K-9, and was certified in narcotic detection in April 2018," Rodgers said. "This is Rye's first narcotic detection since being field certified."

--City News Service/Photo via Shutterstock