CHP seizes 100 pounds of meth during Highway 101 traffic stop
K-9 uncovers $120,000 in meth
– California Highway Patrol officers seized approximately 100 pounds of crystal methamphetamine during a traffic stop on U.S. 101 in Monterey County, leading to the arrest of Pablo Politronestrada, 39, of Salinas, California. The drugs have an estimated street value of about $120,000.
The incident occurred on Aug. 30 at 5:20 a.m., when a CHP officer conducted an enforcement stop on a 2006 Ford Mustang for a traffic violation. The stop took place on U.S. 101 at the Bradley Rest Area in Monterey County. During the interaction, the officer observed several factors that suggested the driver might be engaged in criminal activity. The officer then deployed his K-9 partner, Rae, to perform an exterior sniff of the vehicle, which resulted in a positive alert.
A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed approximately 100 pounds of crystal methamphetamine. Politronestrada was arrested and booked into the Monterey County Jail on charges of possession of methamphetamine for sale and transportation of methamphetamine.
