MAUMEE – Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized 3 kilos of cocaine, valued at $300,000, during a traffic stop yesterday on the Ohio Turnpike in Lucas County. The two suspects will be arraigned in Maumee Municipal Court on felony charges associated with the case.

The driver, Sergio Rodriguez-Hernandez, 25, and the passenger, Jovani Rivera-Peralta, 26, both of Sun Valley, Calif. were charged with a first degree felony for possession of cocaine and a first degree felony for trafficking in cocaine.

A trooper stopped the 2002 Ford Explorer with California registration for a speed violation eastbound on the Ohio Turnpike near milepost 57 in Springfield Township, Lucas County at 1:25 p.m. yesterday. An Ohio State Highway Patrol drug-detection canine alerted to the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed 3 kilos of cocaine in the rear passenger compartment. Also found within the vehicle were syringes, a silver spoon and a small amount of suspected black tar heroin.

Both suspects were incarcerated in the Lucus County Jail. The vehicle was seized for state forfeiture.

If convicted, each suspect could face up to 20 years in prison and up to a $40,000 fine.

Through September 2006, state troopers had seized nearly 4.8 million grams of illegal narcotics, valued at $42.8 million.

 

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