Topic overview
In brief
- Two men from Illinois were arrested after a traffic stop in Lake County, Indiana.
- During the search, police found 21 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in an altered fire pit.
- The men were charged with felony dealing of methamphetamine, highlighting ongoing drug trafficking issues.
Summary
In Indiana, two men from Illinois were arrested after Indiana State Police discovered a significant amount of methamphetamine during a traffic stop. The incident occurred last week when officers pulled over a black Ford Escape on Interstate 65 near the border of Merrillville and Hobart. The vehicle was stopped due to a traffic violation, specifically crossing the solid white fog line and having a partially-covered Illinois license plate. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officers noticed that the two occupants, Kennedy Duran Sanchez, 29, from Chicago, and Kevin Duran Sanchez, 27, from Romeoville, appeared nervous and claimed they did not speak English. To facilitate communication, the police utilized translation software, which revealed that the men provided inconsistent explanations regarding their travel through Lake County.
As part of the investigation, a K9 trained in narcotics detection was brought to the scene and alerted the officers to the presence of drugs. Following this, a search of the vehicle was conducted, leading to the discovery of a large object wrapped in cellophane located in the back cargo area. The men claimed that the object was a fire pit belonging to someone else. However, when the officers opened the fire pit, they found 34 packages wrapped in cellophane, several of which were damaged and revealed a crystalline substance. A field test confirmed that the substance was methamphetamine, with a total weight of 21 pounds. Both men were subsequently taken into custody and charged with felony dealing of methamphetamine. As of the latest reports, no information regarding their court appearances has been made available.