Iredell County Traffic Stop Nets $400K Cocaine Stash: Sheriff

IREDELL COUNTY, NC — A traffic stop along Interstate 77 in Iredell County led deputies to discover four kilograms of cocaine hidden in a box inside a Dodge van, according to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies stopped the van at the 65 mile marker along I-77 on May 31, ICSO said.

The driver — identified as Eyian Valentini Robotham, 53, of Atlanta — told deputies he was enroute to West Virginia.

“During the course of the traffic stop, deputies noticed discrepancies in the information Robotham had given them,” ICSO said in a statement about the incident. Deputies searched the van after Robotham consented and found a stash of nearly 9 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $400,000.

Robotham, who authorites say is an undocumented immigrant, was arrested and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where he was charged with felony trafficking Schedule II (cocaine) by possession; felony trafficking Schedule II (cocaine) by transportation; and felony maintain a vehicle, dwelling or place form controlled substance. His secured bond was set at $750,000.