Louisiana State Police News V1

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Source: http://lsp.org/news_detail.html?id=6214

id cleanReleaseDate troopName title
6214 2008-01-30 Troop G $900,000 Compartment Located in Vehicle
LOUISIANA STATE POLICE
COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE

News Release
January 30, 2008
$900,000 Compartment Located in Vehicle

On January 29, 2008 at approximately 2:00 am, troopers stopped a 1995 Nissan Maxima for a license plate violation on I-20 in Bossier Parish. During the traffic stop troopers observed that the driver, Hector Barragan, claimed to be enroute to Atlanta, Georgia from Phoenix, Arizona but was unfamiliar with his route and could not remember the name of his passenger, Yadira Mendez. A second unusual observation of the vehicle lead troopers to suspect the body of the Nissan had been modified to create false compartments. Consent to search the vehicle was given by Mr. Barragan and false compartments were located. Troopers transported the vehicle to LSP - Troop G where they gained access to the compartments which were located in the vehicle’s rocker panels. Troopers discovered eighteen (18), one-pound bundles of a substance wrapped in cellophane and covered in axle grease. Field tests confirmed the contents of the compartments to be methamphetamine (ice) with an estimated distribution value of up to $900,000*. Both subjects were arrested and transported to Bossier Parish Maximum Security Prison for Possession with intent, and Conspiracy to distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance. RS: 40:967A1 and 40:979 respectively.

Arrested: Hector Barragan Yadira Mendez
Phoenix, Arizona Tulare, California
YOB 1955 YOB 1970

*Figure based on ultimate distribution value observed during the year of 2000. See United States Department of Justice fact-sheet at www.usdoj.gov .


For More Information, Contact:
Trooper Doug Pierrelee
Louisiana State Police
Doug.Pierrelee@dps.la.gov
www.lsp.org
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