Crime & Safety
$5.5M Louisiana Coke Bust Nabs Mount Vernon Man
Louisiana State Police say the Westchester resident was caught with a massive amount of illegal drugs in a semi-truck on Interstate-12.
MOUNT VERNON, NY — Two men from New York ended up on the wrong side of the law in Louisiana after state troopers found a massive stash of drugs during a highway stop.
Troopers seized more than $5.5 million worth of cocaine on I-12 in Covington, Louisiana early Tuesday morning. Louisiana state police stopped a 2005 Peterbilt 387 with Melvin Contreras from Mount Vernon and Pedro Sarante from New York City on the highway in St. Tammany Parish. Troopers became suspicious of the pair and asked for their permission to search the vehicle. After getting consent, the officers were able to locate and seize 55 kilograms of suspected cocaine.
After discovering the massive drug stash, troopers arrested 32-year-old Contreras and 40-year-old Sarante.
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The case has since been referred to federal authorities. Both Contreras and Sarante were booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail.
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