Tennessee State Trooper Discovers Crystal Meth During Traffic Stop

NASHVILLE --- A member of the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s East Bureau Interdiction-Plus Team made a traffic stop in Knox County that resulted in the discovery of 11 pounds of crystal methamphetamine.        

Trooper Adam Bowman stopped a vehicle on Interstate 40 eastbound near the Strawberry Plains exit in Knox County for following too closely at approximately 3:25 p.m. on Wednesday. The initial investigation revealed that the vehicle, a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country minivan, was rented by the passenger Jose Garcia, 45, of Tucson, Arizona.  It was also discovered that the driver, Adalberto Torres, 38, also of Tucson, had a suspended driver license. The pair explained that they were travelling from Tucson, Arizona to Greeneville, South Carolina.  

Another THP investigator arrived on the scene with a drug detector canine, which later gave a positive alert for the presence of illegal drugs.  State Troopers searched the vehicle and discovered 11 individually wrapped, one pound packages containing crystal methamphetamine inside the spare tire underneath the vehicle.  The street value of the drugs were estimated at approximately half a million dollars.  

The two suspects were arrested and charged with felony possession, sale, or delivery of a controlled substance.  They are also facing possible federal prosecution.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee.