Drug agents with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and troopers with the North Carolina Highway Patrol seized 17 pounds of crystal methamphetamine from a Georgia man in late November, and helped authorities in the man’s home state seize more drugs there.
Alexis J. Escandon-Prado, 21, of Norcross, Georgia, faces three counts of trafficking crystal methamphetamine, possession of cocaine, and one count of maintaining a vehicle for the storage and sale of a controlled substance.
According to Captain Bryan Allen of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, drug agents and members of the Highway Patrol’s interdiction team were observing traffic Nov. 30 on U.S. 421 near the U.S. 421 bypass when they saw Escandon-Prado’s vehicle exceeding the posted speed limit.
After stopping the vehicle, troopers “recognized signs of possible criminal activity” and cited Escandon-Prado for driving without a license and issued a warning for speeding before asking for consent to search the vehicle.
When Escandon-Prado refused, a North Carolina State Highway Patrol canine was deployed to sniff the vehicle. When the dog gave a positive alert, officers searched the vehicle and found 17 pounds of crystal methamphetamine in the back passenger seat as well as an undisclosed amount of cash.
Several days after the initial seizure, drug agents were able to obtain information regarding additional drugs located in Georgia. Drug agents in the state were able to locate and seize two pounds of fentanyl. Escandon-Prado has not been charged by Georgia authorities as of this writing.
He remains in custody at the Lee County Jail under $5 million secured bond.
Nice catch , good job !