Traffic stop yields 2nd record-breaking drug bust in less than a month

HAYWOOD COUNTY, Tenn. — A late night traffic stop on interstate 40 in Haywood County has resulted in yet another record breaking drug seizure.

Tuesday night, during a traffic investigation, agents of the criminal interdiction unit with the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force based out of Shelby County observed abnormalities in the tractor trailer and deployed a certified narcotics canine.

The canine alerted to the presence of a narcotic odor emanating from the trailer.

A four hour search of the trailer, agents discovered two aftermarket compartments near the refrigeration unit of the trailer. Agents forced open the compartments and discovered 90 wrapped kilos of cocaine weighing approximately 200lbs of cocaine.

“The driver of the tractor trailer we were able to determine that he was not involved with it what so ever, it was an innocent driver. The owner of the trailer contacted a national company to drive that trailer,” said Johnie Carter, director of the WTDTF.

The drugs are valued at more than 2 million dollars wholesale with a street value estimated at nearly $9-million .

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