LANE COUNTY, Oregon – A traffic stop on Interstate-5 at 9:30 am on September 10th, 2024 led to the seizure of two kilograms of powdered fentanyl.
An Oregon State Trooper made the stop on I-5 near milepost 181 in Lane County. The trooper recognized signs of drug activity. An OSP K-9 unit responded to the scene and the K-9 was deployed to search the vehicle and alerted to the potential presence of drugs.
When the K-9 alerted to the potential presence of drugs the driver fled on foot across all lanes on I-5 into a wooded area. A search of the vehicle yielded two kilograms, nearly 4.4 pounds, of powdered fentanyl in the trunk.
Law enforcement fruitlessly searched the area for several hours. It is believed that the driver obtained a ride out of the area. Before he fled, the driver presented a fake Mexican consular card with the name Luis Angel Garcia Gonzalez, 28, from Oakland, California. It is not known if that is an alias.
The Drug Enforcement Agency assisted and determined that the drugs were headed for the Portland-metro area. Because of the quantity of fentanyl seized, it was turned over to the DEA.