News – During a routine traffic stop in Florida, authorities discovered a substantial quantity of cocaine in the possession of a Texas man who was already under federal supervised release. As a result, the individual now faces additional charges.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has released a statement confirming that Hector Villarreal, a 36-year-old from Pasadena, Texas, has been charged with possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. This comes after a federal grand jury handed down an indictment against him.
On June 27th, Villarreal was pulled over by deputies from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for a traffic violation on Interstate 75 near Lake City. While conducting the stop, deputies noticed some suspicious behavior and decided to request a canine search of the vehicle.
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The dog detected the presence of drugs, which led to the uncovering of sealed cardboard boxes that contained an astonishing 30 kilograms (equivalent to around 66 pounds) of cocaine.
Federal authorities were already supervising Villarreal due to a prior conviction, as stated in the indictment. The government also plans to seize any assets that were utilized by Villarreal in connection with the alleged offense.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office are spearheading the investigation, with Assistant United States Attorney A. Tysen Duva set to prosecute the case.