26 pounds of methamphetamine seized in Merced County traffic stop

A traffic stop led to the arrest of a Stockton man who was driving a vehicle with about 26 pounds of methamphetamine stashed in a hidden compartment, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Jose J. Piedra, 26, was booked into the John Latorraca Correctional Facility on Thursday on suspicion of possession of more than 25 pounds of a controlled substance, transporting a controlled substance and concealing a controlled substance, all felonies, according to booking records.

Piedra remained in custody Friday with bond set at $270,000.

Officer Moises Onsurez said the driver of a 2012 Jeep Liberty was stopped for speeding on Highway 99, between Chowchilla and Merced, about 2 p.m. Thursday.

“The officer approached the vehicle and smelled the odor of burned marijuana,” Onsurez said.

A law enforcement canine was brought to the scene and alerted investigators to an area in the back of the vehicle. Officers found about 26 pounds of suspected methamphetamine in numerous plastic bags.

Onsurez said it was unclear where Piedra was coming from, but noted that he lives in Stockton and was heading north toward that city when he was stopped.

This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 4:53 PM with the headline "26 pounds of methamphetamine seized in Merced County traffic stop."