JNET, DEA Seize 126 Pounds of Meth, Other Drugs From Semi Trailer in Centralia

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A traffic stop Thursday in Centralia led to the seizure of 126 pounds of methamphetamine, thousands of Oxycodone pills and smaller amounts of heroin and cocaine hidden in a semi truck, according to the Centralia Police Department. 

The drugs have an estimated street value of $4 million, Lewis County deputy prosecutor Joel DeFazio said Friday. 

Two suspects — Carlos Alejandro Luna-Rodriguez, 22, of Mexicali, Mexico and Bernardo Olivas-Leyva, 62, of Fontana, California, were arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail Thursday morning on numerous felony drug charges. 

They made their first appearances on three charges each of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, possession of heroin and possession Oxycodone and are both being held on $1 million bail. 

DeFazio asked Superior Court Judge James Lawler on Friday to impose $2 million bail for each defendant, citing the massive amount of illegal drugs found in the men’s possession. 

“This is an unusual case with this quantity of drugs,” he said. 

Lawler imposed $1 million bail for each man. 

“Community safety is an issue given the volume of controlled substances that were found here, together with the flight risk,” he said. 

Both defendants’ arraignments are scheduled for May 3.

According to a news release from the Centralia Police Department and court documents,  members of the Joint Narcotic Enforcement Team and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Team received information Thursday morning that a large shipment of methamphetamine would be traveling through Lewis County in a semi truck with a California license plate. 

JNET is a partnership between the sheriff’s office and the Centralia and Chehalis police departments. 

Officers found a truck matching the description at milepost 63 of Interstate 5, traveling northbound. 

According to court documents, officers observed the semi traveling 70 miles per hour in a 60 mile-per-hour zone and conducted a traffic stop just north of Centralia. 

The semi was reportedly hauling Starbucks products between California and Spokane. 

According to the news release, officers summoned a K9 unit due to “suspicious activity” from the driver and passenger. 

The dog alerted, and officers searched the truck’s interior. According to court documents, the suspects consented to a search. 

Officers reported finding 40 bundles of methamphetamine in the truck’s sleeper berth, which were packed in a television box. Under a lower mattress they found an additional 50 bundles of meth, 2.4 pounds of heroin, 3,000 to 4,000 30 mg Oxycodone tablets and a few grams of cocaine, according to the news release. 

The total weight of the meth was 126 pounds. 

Officers also found suspected cocaine, but neither suspect was charged with possession of the substance.

“No contraband was found in the trailer and none of the food product in the trailer was exposed or compromised,” according to the release. “The owners made arrangements to retrieve the load. It was subsequently transferred to another truck and continued on its way.”