Texas K-9 Sniffs $1M in Meth from Fire Extinguishers

Law enforcement officials in Fayette County, Texas, made a million dollar drug bust after a traffic stop on Interstate 10 between San Antonio and Houston.

A K-9 officer alerted on 10 kilos of methamphetamine hidden in two fire extinguishers.

The interstate is a major corridor for drug traffic from Mexico.

Fayette County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Randy Thumann and his K-9 partner Lobos conducted a traffic stop and authorities from the department say that the deputy observed several criminal indicators.

The driver of the vehicle, Vidal Rodriquez (24) gave Sergeant Thumann permission to search the vehicle.

K-9 Lobos alerted and 23 pounds of meth was discovered in the fire extinguishers. Sheriff Keith Korenek reports that the street value of the drug is approximately $1 million.

Breitbart Texas met the sergeant and Lobos while in La Grange, Texas, in July. As reported, Sheriff Korenek’s interdiction team has been making a major impact on the trafficking of drugs by drug dealers who have gone undetected at border checkpoints. Sheriff Korenek made drug enforcement a major priority for his department when he was first elected in 2004.

Sgt. Thumann and his K-9 partner Lobos, have been successful in busting drug smugglers, human traffickers, and those going back to the border with the cash profits. Lieutenant David Beyer told Breitbart Texas during an interview in July that Thumann and Lobos are very good at what they do. “So much so,” Beyer added, “that some traffickers try to find ways around the county to avoid their watchful eye.”

Just a day after the in-person interview, the pair seized $1.3 million worth of methamphetamine, as reported by Breitbart Texas. This followed a $1.6 million seizure made by the deputy and his K-9 partner on July 12.

A “Wall of Honor” in an office at the sheriff’s department contains photos from dozens of busts where loads of drugs were seized, and large quantities of cash were stopped from being smuggled back to Mexico.

Rodriquez and passenger David Sanchez (23) were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Lana Shadwick is a contributing writer and legal analyst for Breitbart Texas. She has served as a prosecutor and associate judge in Texas. Follow her on Twitter @LanaShadwick2.