General Headquarters — Columbus, Ohio

For Immediate Release: September 28, 2007
Contact: Lt. Tony Bradshaw (614) 752-2792

Patrol seizes 15 kilos of cocaine in Lucas County
traffic stop valued at $2.25 million

Troopers stopped a 2005 Chevrolet Impala, with Rhode Island registration, for both following too closely and marked lanes violations. Troopers also stopped a rented 2007 Lincoln Town Car for a following to closely violation eastbound on the Ohio Turnpike near milepost 57 in Lucas County at 9:49 a.m. yesterday. Investigation revealed that the passenger of the Lincoln was the owner of the Chevrolet and the driver of the Chevrolet had rented the Lincoln. Criminal indicators were observed and an Ohio State Highway Patrol drug-detection canine alerted to the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed 15 kilos of cocaine.

The driver of the Lincoln Town Car, Luis R. Alicea, 29, of Attleboro, Massachusetts was charged with Drug Abuse and Trafficking in Drugs, both first-degree felonies. The passenger in the Lincoln, Pedro Alvarado, 28, of Providence, Rhode Island, and the owner of the Chevrolet, was charged with Drug Abuse, Trafficking in Drugs, both first-degree felonies, and Possession of Criminal Tools, a fifth-degree felony. The driver of the Chevrolet, Doneri Aguilar Sandoval, 47, of Attleboro, Massachusetts was charged with two counts of Complicity, both first-degree felonies. The passenger in the Chevrolet, Carlos L. Clemente, 40, of Providence, Rhode Island, was also charged with two counts of Complicity, both first-degree felonies.

The suspects are incarcerated in the Lucas County Jail.

Through August of 2007, the Patrol has seized nearly 2.7 million grams of illegal narcotics valued at $47.8 million. In 2006, the Patrol seized more than 4.9 million grams (11,000 lbs.) of illegal narcotics, valued at nearly $55 million.

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