PINEVILLE, N.C. — Three people were taken into custody after a narcotics trafficking investigation in Pineville led to the seizure of approximately 4 kilograms of cocaine and 10 firearms.
The Pineville Police Department said it worked with Homeland Security Investigations and Homeland Security Task Force officers on Oct. 16.
During the investigation, Pineville officers stopped two vehicles connected to the case.
A task force officer deployed her K-9 partner, Max, to conduct open-air sniffs of both vehicles. Police said the dog alerted to each vehicle.
Officers recovered approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine and a Glock 17L handgun from the vehicle stops, according to the department.
The investigation also led officers and federal agents to an apartment complex, where they found an additional 2 kilograms of cocaine and nine firearms, police said.
Ovando Gutierrez-Pacheco, Antonio Santos-Gonzales, and Efrain Torres-Mejia were taken into custody in connection with this case.
Police described the investigation as an example of the partnership between local and federal law enforcement agencies in efforts to disrupt drug trafficking.
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