Million-dollar drug bust in Newberry Springs

NEWBERRY SPRINGS - Officials confiscated approximately $1 million worth of cocaine during a routine traffic stop late Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 40 at Newberry Springs.

During the traffic stop, officials said the driver began acting suspiciously. While searching the vehicle officials said they uncovered 25 kilograms of cocaine according to Sgt. Gregg Wielenga of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's High Intensity Criminal Interdiction Team.

"This is our biggest seizure of 2008 so far," said Wielenga. "This was obviously part of a large drug-trafficking operation."

On the street, a kilogram of cocaine is worth approximately $40,000, making the entire load worth $1 million, he said.
The vehicle transporting the cocaine had began its journey in the Los Angeles-area with North Carolina as the destination, said Wielenga. The origin of the cocaine or where it entered the U.S. is still unknown.

Deputy Antonio Juarez was conducting the stop due to the driver's failure to wear a seat belt, when the driver's actions warranted a search of the vehicle, said Wielenga.