SEWARD COUNTY, Neb. (KMTV) — The Seward County Sheriff's Office says more than $500,000 worth of methamphetamine was seized during a traffic stop on I-80 on Wednesday.
The stop, and subsequent seizure, took place after Sheriff Michael Vance stopped a flatbed truck that was towing a Cadillac SUV. While speaking with the passenger, Vance says he noticed several inconsistencies and observed multiple signs of illegal activity. According to authorities, the passenger went on to say that another vehicle was traveling with him. Shortly after, it was stopped by a deputy.
After confirming the identities of all parties present in the two vehicles, a K9 unit was deployed on the Escalade and it indicated the presence of illegal narcotics says the Seward County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities say twenty-one packages of methamphetamine, weighing in at 27 pounds, were found hidden in the sidewall of the vehicle. The drugs, which are believed to have came from Juarez, Mexico, were valued at about $594,000 and bound for Omaha according to the Seward County Sheriff's Office.
24-year-old Christian Gardea of El Paso, TX, 33-year-old Perdo A. Robles of Omaha, and 39-year-old Rex L. Kmiecik of Omaha, NE were arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of crystal methamphetamine.
The flatbed driver, two children and a woman were released from the scene.
