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17 pounds of heroin seized in traffic stop


Published: Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 3:44 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 9:28 a.m.

Shasta County authorities are still searching for the driver of a car where more than 17 pounds of tar heroin was found stashed in the bumper a day earlier.

The driver of the red Volkswagen sedan was pulled over Friday in Redding for following another car too closely on Interstate 5.

Authorities say the driver gave investigators his identification but fled on foot when a drug-sniffing police dog picked up the scent of heroin. He was still at large Saturday.

The heroin is worth about $2.8 million. A Shasta County Sheriff's captain believes the seizure is the biggest heroin bust in Shasta County history.

Detectives declined to reveal the driver's name pending the outcome of their investigation.


Comments

  1. ProMaZtuuR says...
    July 20, 2008 7:26:44 am

    RE: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080720/NEWS/807200462

    OMG...this person needs to be on worlds dummest criminals...why would anyone give the cop his/her identification and then try to run?????brains people, brains

  2. code30 says...
    July 20, 2008 8:41:00 am

    It was probably a fake I.D.

    The reason the cops are not talking about it is because they are most likely the dumb ones in this caper.

    When doing a proper vehicle search, the detained person should be secured so nothing bad happens, like for example, he runs away.

    If I were going to make a bet, I'd put money on the fact that they don't know who he is, or where to find him.

  3. lovesthelaw says...
    July 20, 2008 9:14:13 am

    How about maybe the id wasn't legitimate?

    Maybe he ran because that's what THEY all do! When they aren't in the country LEGALLY and they get pinched, they run!

    Not to mention the ILLEGAL stash. Maybe he was a drug runner! Get it, RUNner!

  4. e988o says...
    July 20, 2008 11:36:00 am

    Moron is the correct description. If you have illegal drugs in your car, you don't do ANYTHING to violate the vehicle code. Don't give the cops ANY excuse to do a traffic stop.

    Don't speed, don't run red lights or roll stop signs, don't tailgate, have registration current, don't hang do-dads from rear view mirror (illegal), don't toss cig. butts out window. Also, don't wear hippie clothes, don't have facial hair, don't have long hair or mullet, don't have six passengers in car.

    Are you brain dead booger eatin' morons who sell drugs reading this?

    The cops actually have an easy job WRT catching these morons. They might as well have a sign on the car roof that says "Drugs On Board".

  5. code30 says...
    July 20, 2008 5:40:22 pm

    They had a K-9 on scene....And the bad guy still got away?

    That is really, really bad.

  6. roncol31 says...
    July 20, 2008 7:31:30 pm

    wow, code30, you are either the world's biggest hypocrite (if you're LE but I REALLY doubt it)or just another little worm who enjoys getting in obnoxious anonymous shots at others. I pick the latter. 99% of LE related articles you find some reason to nit pick. If you were really LE, had really pursued someone, had really been on a containment, had actually been involved in the search of a person, place, vehicle, etc., then you would realize sometimes sh#t happens. Yes everyone, sometimes it happens to cops, because like all of you, we eat, go to the bathroom, get dressed one leg at a time, just like everyone else. Man, give it a rest toad30. You are the epitome of everyones complaint with the Press Democrat...always negative.

    But of course I'm sure that you are sitting in your big chair, in front of your computer, gleefully making fun of everyone else's misfortune or missteps. Don't bother replying, I won't be on here long enough to read your pathetic post (and I'm sure it will be forthcoming).

  7. curmar1 says...
    July 20, 2008 10:48:00 pm

    WELL OTHERS HAVE POSTED SOME PRETTY GOOD REASONS ..BUT IF YOU EVER WATCH THE PROGRAM "COPS" IT IS PRETTY FUNNY HOW THEY PULL OVER PEOPLE WITH TAIL LIGHTS OUT OR NO LICENSE PLATE ON THE CAR AT 230 IN THE A.M ...AND THEY ARE PACKING ENOUGH DRUGS TO KILL 20 HORSES....SO DUMB....YUPOF COURSE THEY FAILED THAT TEST WHEN THEY SAID ..HE PUT THAT UP MY NOSE? OR IN MY VEIN AND DO WHAT?? YEAH THAT SOUNDS GGGGGREEEAT

  8. curmar1 says...
    July 20, 2008 10:49:32 pm

    NOT ONLY IS THAT TRUE...BUT VERY FUNNY ...KUDOS

  9. curmar1 says...
    July 20, 2008 10:51:16 pm

    I TEND TO AGREE

  10. mrbose says...
    July 21, 2008 5:50:16 am

    Federal authorities said Sunday that 17.5 pounds of "black tar" heroin found Friday during a traffic stop near Redding probably originated in Mexico.

    Gordon Taylor, head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's Sacramento office, said the black gummy-like substance know as "black tar" is "the heroin of choice" on the west coast because of its availability in Mexico.

    Shasta County sheriff's officials said the incident began when they stopped a red Volkswagen that was following a car too closely.They got the driver's ID when a scent-dog arrived and smelled something behind the front bumper. Deputies found blocks of black-tar heroin, weighing 17.5 pounds and valued at $2.8 million

    Authorities said the suspect fled and remained at large Sunday.

    The Shasta County Sheriff's Office and the DEA are working together on the case. "We are working with local authorities, but we are not the lead (investigator)," DEA's Taylor said.

    He said that there has been a noticeable increase in heroin seizures recently. Stanislaus, Fresno and Merced counties are high trafficking areas for Mexican drug cartels, he said.

    Currently the wholesale price of heroin is less than methamphetamines, Taylor said.

    "On average meth costs $1,000 - $1,500 per ounce, he said. Heroin is sold by the "piece" which is three and a half grams less than an ounce. On average, each "piece" costs between $500 and $1,000.

    That is a change from the past when heroin was considered to be very expensive, he said.

    No kidding!

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