Nearly 80 pounds of meth seized in Cabarrus County traffic stop

Nearly 80 pounds of methamphetamine were seized following a traffic stop in Cabarrus County.

On April 29, deputies conducted a traffic stop along NC Highway 49 on a vehicle for a regulatory violation. A K-9 unit was deployed and alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies searched the vehicle and said they found approximately 78.7 pounds of methamphetamine.

β€œThis case is a direct result of proactive enforcement and the vigilance of our deputies,” said Sheriff Van W. Shaw. β€œOur Office remains committed to protecting the citizens of Cabarrus County by aggressively targeting those who bring illegal narcotics into our community.”

The driver, Benjamin Hernandez, was charged with trafficking methamphetamine. He is being held on a $1 million secured bond. He is also being held under an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer, deputies said.