Cocaine worth $720,000 seized during traffic stop on I-5 in Merced County, CHP says
A traffic stop on the I-5 in Merced County led to the discovery of 20 pounds of cocaine worth over $720,000.
The traffic stop happened just before 3 p.m. Feb. 28 on a 2018 Ford F-150 for a violation. The stop was located on northbound I-5, south of Highway 165. As an officer was getting details, he noticed several indicators that led him to believe the driver was engaged in alleged criminal activity, CHP said.
The officer’s K-9, Shei, was deployed to the exterior of the truck and gave a positive alert to the odor of narcotics.
Officers made an extensive search of the vehicle and noticed an aftermarket compartment in the truck’s roof that was described as “sophisticated.”
The compartment contained about 20 pounds of suspected cocaine, CHP said.
The driver, James Arnet Churn, 66, of Portland, Oregon, was charged with possession of cocaine for sale and transportation of cocaine across non-contiguous counties. He was booked into Merced County Jail.
The case was turned over to the Merced Area Gang Narcotics Enforcement Team (MAGNET).
This story was originally published March 5, 2025 at 11:58 AM.
