California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers seized suspected cocaine worth over $800,000 during a traffic stop. The incident occurred in Merced County when a Central Division canine officer pulled over a 2025 Honda CR-V on August 12 for a traffic violation.
The officer noticed signs of potential criminal activity. A search of the vehicle revealed a bag containing about 30 pounds of suspected cocaine, with an estimated street value of $817,200.
The driver faces charges of possession of cocaine for sale and transporting cocaine across counties. The individual is held at the Merced County Main Jail.
The Merced Area Gang Narcotics Enforcement Team (MAGNET) is leading the investigation. This seizure follows another large cocaine bust last month, where federal agents found over 1,000 pounds hidden under the floorboards of a commercial truck entering from Mexico. That bust marked one of Southern California’s biggest drug seizures this year.
Additionally, U.S. officials recently discovered $3.7 million worth of cocaine hidden in a cucumber shipment at the Pharr International Bridge in Texas. Officers found 278.88 pounds of cocaine after a canine inspection and imaging scan flagged the vehicle.
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