March 09, 2007  Preble County, Ohio
State Troopers seized 80 kilos of cocaine from a tractor trailer

Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized 80 kilos of cocaine, valued at $8 million, during a traffic stop yesterday on Interstate 70 in Preble County. This is the fifth largest cocaine seizure in Patrol history. The first largest was back in 1993 with 228 kilos.

The suspects will be arraigned today in the Eaton Municipal Court on felony drug trafficking charges associated with the case.

The driver, Emeterio Garcia, 29, of Tucson, Arizona, and passenger Sabastian Quiroz, 51, of Mexico, were charged with first-degree felony possession of cocaine and fifth-degree felony possession of criminal tools. The driver was also charged with operating an unsafe vehicle.

A trooper stopped the 2001 Kenworth truck with a 1998 Great Dane trailer, both with Arizona registration, for a vehicle defect eastbound on Interstate 70 near milepost 8 in Preble County at 11:06 a.m. yesterday. An Ohio State Highway Patrol drug-detection canine alerted to the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed 80 kilos of cocaine.

Both suspects were incarcerated in the Preble County Jail. If convicted, they could each face up to 11 years in prison and up to a $22,500 fine.

Source: Ohio State Highway Patrol