Iredell County K-9 finds 5 lbs. cocaine, 25 lbs. marijuana; New Jersey man charged

Hector Jaoquin Iglesias, 43, of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, is charged with two counts of felony trafficking cocaine, two counts of felony trafficking marijuana, two counts of felony possession with intent to sell of deliver a controlled substance, felony maintain a vehicle for a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

On Wednesday, deputies stopped a Lexus passenger car traveling on Interstate 77 South for a traffic violation, the sheriff’s office said.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Iglesias. The sheriff’s office said Iglesias told deputies that he was traveling from his residence in New Jersey to Knoxville, Tennessee. The sheriff’s office said deputies found numerous inconsistencies in the man’s travel plans and detected other indicators of criminal activity.

K-9 Connie was called to the scene of the stop. K-9 Connie gave a positive indication of the presence of a controlled substance. A search of the vehicle was conducted. Approximately five pounds of cocaine, 25 pounds of marijuana and seven pounds of THC edibles were located inside the trunk, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office said the street value of the seized narcotics is estimated to be $500,000.

Iglesias was issued a secured bond of $950,000, the sheriff’s office said.