50 Kilos of Liquid Meth Found in Gas Tank During South Austin Traffic Stop

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX -- Police found 50 kilos of liquid meth in the gas tank of a vehicle during a traffic stop along I-35 Monday.

On Dec. 7, the Austin Police Department stopped a gray 2001 Dodge Ram pickup with Iowa plates, police said. They detected deception from the suspect, identified as Richard Martinez, 44, and obtained spoken permission to search his vehicle.

The K9 unit performed a sniff of the pickup truck, and alerted officers to the areas around the gas tanks on both sides of the vehicle. Upon searching the truck, police discovered about 50 kilos of liquid methamphetamine with a street value of over $4 million hidden in the tanks.

Police said the fuel pump was manipulated to syphon gas from the top of the tank, with the darker colored methamphetamine stored below.

Martinez was arrested on a DEA detainer.