Federal and county law enforcement officers made a juicy bust in early May.
Following a traffic stop on May 9, authorities found cocaine, not juice in two Capri Sun boxes.
The bust followed surveillance by federal agents at a McAllen residence at about 3:50 p.m. that day. Agents saw a man leave the home in a Gold Jeep SUV, which agents followed to a McAllen apartment and then to the UFC Gym parking lot at 3300 N. McColl Road, where it parked next to a gray Honda CRV with Mexican plates, according to a criminal complaint.
Agents determined the Jeep was driven by Jose Rolando Contreras-Salinas, a Mexican citizen born in 1983. He was arrested Thursday and charged with possession with the intent to distribute approximately 11 pounds of cocaine and conspiracy to do the same.
While in the gym’s parking lot, the agents watched as Contreras exited the Jeep, retrieved a package from the CRV’s driver and then placed it behind the Jeep’s driver seat before walking into the gym, according to the complaint.
When Contreras left the gym, the complaint said agents followed him to the Walmart at 800 east Nolana, where he met with the driver of a white Range Rover. Federal prosecutors allege Contreras gave two large, white plastic bags to the occupants of the Range Rover and both vehicles then left.
Federal authorities then coordinated traffic stops with the help of Hidalgo County constables and obtained consent to search both vehicles.
The complaint said the constables found approximately 2.2 pounds of cocaine in a heat-sealed bag in Contreras’ Jeep, according to the complaint.
“In the Range Rover, Agents observed (2) plastic bags with two Capri Sun boxes containing multiple, white, brick-like substances,” the complaint said.
Each Capri Sun box had two bricks which weighed nearly 9 pounds.
Contreras was scheduled to make a first appearance Friday in McAllen federal court in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker.
