State police: heroin seized in traffic stop worth $1.1 million
ASHLAND, Ore. -- Police discovered over 50 pounds of heroin hidden in a man's SUV during a traffic stop on Interstate 5 near Ashland Thursday afternoon.
The driver, Raul Mendoza, 65 of Hillsboro, was pulled over on Interstate 5 just north of Ashland for a traffic violation. Police investigated Mendoza's Cadillac SUV after the stop was made, around 3:50 p.m. Thursday afternoon.
A police canine unit helped police discover 15 packages of heroin that were hidden inside Mendez's SUV. Mendez was arrested for unlawful possession and distribution of heroin.
Police said that the total seized heroin weighed about 55 pounds, and has an estimated value of $1.1 million dollars. Officials from the OSP Drug Enforcement Section called Thursday's heroin bust "the largest for southern Oregon in recent memory."
Yeesh, that is a lot of heroin!
I love it when stupid people carry massive quantities of drugs on I-5. Suddenly they do a stupid thing and get pulled over. I am so thankful the drug lords use stupid people. I am also thankful for the law enforcement on I-5 because they are clearly not stupid. They catch stupid being stupid. That keeps us a whole lot safer.
Does reality mimmick art or does this guy not look like the actor in Breaking Bad?
 @POSTALONE No. He looks like a Mexican.
The State Troopers did their job, now let's see if the miserable courts can do their job. This guy goes away for good as far as I am concerned. Can you even imagine transporting that much misery, and the people it was going to effect or kill.
 @souptonuts seems like a good time to apply some of our new anti-terrorist laws on this guy.  Probably more room in a Federal Pen somewhere.
Holy crap! Can you imagine how many crimes were stopped by getting that much heroin off the streets?Â
Good job O.S.P.! thank you.....