I-70 traffic stop leads to discovery of $450,000 worth of Fentanyl

I-70 traffic stop leads to discovery of $450,000 worth of Fentanyl

LITTLE POINT -- Observing a vehicle following too closely and traveling at a reduced speed in the left passing lane of eastbound Interstate 70, an Indiana State Police trooper made a major drug arrest Friday morning at the 53-mile marker near the Morgan-Putnam county line.

Traffic stop on Interstate 70 Friday yields six kilograms of the illegal drug fentanyl. State Police photo.

The driver of the white Ford F-150 pickup truck was identified as Christian Paz Recarte, 29, of Los Angeles, traveling with three passengers in the vehicle.

During the course of what started as a 10:53 a.m. traffic stop, the trooper observed possible criminal indicators, and the Putnam County Sheriff's Department K9 was called for assistance.

A positive K9 alert to the odor of illegal drugs subsequently led to a search of the vehicle, State Police said.

During the search of the vehicle, the trooper discovered six kilograms of fentanyl, which has an estimated street value of $450,000.

It is estimated that Friday's drug seizure removed approximately 59,000 doses of a potentially lethal drug from the streets, State Police said.

The drugs were coming from California and reportedly destined for Ohio, when the truck was stopped 12 miles east of Cloverdale.

Arrested were Christian Paz Recarte, 29, Hugo Rosales Moreno, 45, Katherine Navarro, 22, and Kelin Morales Martinez, 29, all of Los Angeles.

All four suspects are charged with possession of narcotic drug, Level 3 felony, and dealing a narcotic drug, Level 2 felony.