WBTW

Florence traffic stop reveals $6M in cocaine

FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – Two New Jersey men are in jail after agents with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Enforcement Unit discovered $6 million worth of cocaine in their vehicle during a traffic stop Tuesday.

Major Michael Nunn says officers with the Criminal Enforcement Unit stopped a vehicle traveling on I-95 Tuesday around 10 a.m. for a moving violation.The officers obtained consent to search the vehicle after becoming suspicious of possible criminal activity, adds Major Nunn.

When officers searched the vehicle, they discovered 125 pounds of powder cocaine packaged in 50 separate units of approximately 2.2 pounds each, confirms Major Nunn. The estimated street value of this amount of cocaine is approximately $6 million.

Officer arrested Ruddy Antonio Iglesia, 35, of Perth Amboy, New Jersey and Franklin Benjamin Lamtigua, 41, also of New Jersey. Both suspects are charged with trafficking in cocaine, says Major Nunn.

Bonds for both Iglesia and Lamtigua were denied by a Florence County Magistrate. Trafficking in cocaine is a felony punishable by a mandatory prison term of between 25 and 30 years, says Major Nunn. The investigation into this incident is ongoing and additional charges are possible.

“This highly successful and nationally recognized Criminal Enforcement Unit continues to make us proud in their relentless pursuit of the criminal element,” Sheriff Kenney Boone stated.  “We will continue to do our part to stop the flow of illegal drugs into our communities and beyond.”