SANTA
NELLA, Calif. – On October 4, 2024, at approximately
2:40 p.m., a California Highway Patrol (CHP) Central Division canine officer
seized around 120,000 fentanyl-laced pills during a traffic stop on Interstate
5 in Merced County. The discovery, with an estimated street value of $1.2
million, resulted in the arrest of two suspects on multiple felony charges.
The incident began when the CHP
officer pulled over a Chevrolet Malibu for a traffic violation on northbound
I-5 at the Santa Nella Platform Scale. During the stop, the officer detected a
strong odor of burnt marijuana and observed several indicators suggesting
criminal activity. After establishing probable cause, the officer searched the
vehicle, uncovering two loaded firearms—one hidden under the driver’s seat—and
approximately 120,000 fentanyl-laced pills concealed in the trunk.
The driver, Henry Tsan, 25, of
Renton, Washington, and the passenger, Cashous Sauntino Keowongphet, 23, of
Seattle, Washington, were arrested and booked into Los Banos City Jail. Both
suspects face charges of possession of fentanyl for sale, transportation of
fentanyl across non-contiguous counties, possession of fentanyl while armed,
possession of a loaded firearm, and possession of a concealed firearm within a
vehicle.
“Our
canine officers are on the front lines in the fight against drug trafficking. This
significant seizure underscores the ongoing efforts of the California Highway
Patrol to combat drug trafficking and protect California’s communities from the
dangers of illicit narcotics,” said CHP Central Division Chief Damon Gilmore.
The
case was turned over to the Merced Area Gang Narcotics Enforcement Team, which
is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program composed of law enforcement
personnel from the California Department of Justice, the California Highway
Patrol, the Merced County Probation Department, the Merced County District
Attorney’s Office, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, and the Livingston
Police Department.
The
mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and
Security.
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