ASH FORK, Ariz. - Yavapai County deputies arrested a man accused of smuggling methamphetamine. They say 37-year-old Marcelo Neri-Hernandez was stopped on Interstate 40 near Ash Fork on Wednesday for a traffic violation.
Per YCSO, "Hernandez was the only occupant and provided a Mexican passport as identification. During a routine records check, the deputy was notified that Hernandez had a valid immigration warrant as a deported felon. Based on the warrant, Hernandez was arrested."
While checking the car's vehicle prior to towing, the deputy noticed the spare tire outside of its normal storage area. When the deputy removed the carpet laying over the spare tire, he found 13 wrapped packages of meth.
The total weight of the meth was 25 pounds.
YCSO officials stated, "Hernandez indicated he was driving from California to his home state of Oklahoma but declined to discuss the methamphetamine load."
He was booked at the Camp Verde Detention Center on the immigration warrant, along with charges including possession of dangerous drugs for sale, transportation of dangerous drugs for sale and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hernandez is being held on a $3 million bond.
The drugs are said to be worth over $600,000.