COVINGTON, La. — Louisiana State Troopers found 55 kilograms of suspected cocaine during the stop of a tractor-trailer on Interstate-12 in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, early Tuesday morning.
Trooper stopped the 2005 Peterbilt 387 in the eastbound lane on I-12. During the stop, troopers became suspicious of criminal activity and requested consent to search the vehicle.
After consent was granted, troopers found the suspected cocaine.
Troopers then arrested Melvin Contreras, 32, of Mount Vernon, New York, and Pedro Sarante, 40, of New York City on drug-related charges.
Troopers followed up with federal partners at the Department of Homeland Security and the case has been referred to federal authorities. Both Contreras and Sarante were booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail.
The street value of the cocaine is reported to be $5.5 million.
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