Two charged after 20 pounds of cocaine found during traffic stop

HENRYVILLE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Two men are facing charges after Indiana State Police found 20 pounds of cocaine in a vehicle.

The discovery was made using a K-9 at the scene of a traffic stop on I-65 in southern Indiana.

The driver and a passenger were taken to the Clark County Jail.

Indiana State Police released the following:

A Wednesday afternoon traffic stop on I-65 ended with two arrests after officers located several pounds of cocaine.

Just before 1 pm, Wednesday afternoon, Master Trooper Nathan Abbott stopped a 2002 Hyundai for speeding on I-65 southbound, just south of the Henryville exit. The driver, Pablo Vazquez Salazar of Lexington, Indiana, was found to be driving on a suspended license. His passenger was identified as Betza Elaurelio Camos Vazquez, also of Lexington.

While conducting the traffic stop, Trooper Abbott requested the assistance of Senior Trooper Zachary Smith and his K9 partner “Riggs.” Riggs alerted on the vehicle, and during a search of the car, Troopers Abbott and Smith located over four pounds of suspected cocaine in a backpack. Suspected cocaine was also found on Vazquez Salazar.

Furthering the investigation, officers executed a search warrant at Salazar’s residence located at 1254 S. Thompson Road in Lexington, Indiana.

During a search of the property, eight additional kilos of suspected cocaine were located, along with a firearm and three pounds of suspected marijuana. A total of approximately 22 pounds of suspected cocaine was seized.

Both subjects were incarcerated at the Clark County Jail without further incident. *Charges are as follows:

Pablo Vazquez Salazar

Dealing Cocaine – Level 2 Felony
Possession of Cocaine – Level 3 Felony
Possession of Cocaine – Level 6 Felony
Driving Suspended Prior – A Misdemeanor
Betza Elaurelio Camos Vazquez

Dealing Cocaine – Level 2 Felony
Possession of Cocaine – Level 3 Felony
Possible additional charges are pending.

*Indiana State Police remind that all charges are merely allegations, and all criminal defendants should be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.