Over $2 million worth of narcotics seized, man arrested in Merced County

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – With the help of a sniffer dog, more than $2 million worth of drugs were seized during a traffic stop in Merced County, which also led to the arrest of an Oregon man, the California Highway Patrol said.

Officials said a sniffer dog stopped a 2013 Hyundai Elantra for a traffic violation on I-5 northbound, north of Nees Avenue in Merced County, around 4 p.m. Wednesday, with the traffic violations observed in Fresno County.

CHP says the driver, identified as Issac Abraham Sandoval Lopez, 36, of Portland, Oregon, did not have a license. While inspecting the vehicle prior to impounding the Hyundai, the officer found a plastic bag on the right rear passenger floorboard containing several packets of suspected crystal meth.

In addition, two more suitcases and a backpack containing several packages of suspected crystal meth and three packages of unknown narcotics were discovered, officials said.

According to the CHP, around 262 pounds of crystal meth, 5 pounds of fentanyl powder and 2 pounds of heroin were seized during the stop. The drugs had an estimated street value of $2,669,520. Lopez was subsequently arrested and the case was handed over to the Fresno High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT).