$432,000 Found In Traffic Stop

POSTED: Tuesday, August 16, 2011
UPDATED: 11:57 am CDT August 16, 2011

ROSENBERG, Texas -- A traffic stop resulted in nearly a half-million-dollar discovery for Rosenberg police, officials said Tuesday.

Investigators said an officer stopped a vehicle Thursday at 7:45 p.m. in the 27000 block of Highway 59 and a canine officer searched the exterior of the vehicle.

The dog alerted the officer to a front door seam and a large cardboard box containing a gas grill and propane tank in the truck's bed, police said.

After a search, officers seized almost $432,000 in currency hidden in a 32-inch television on the front seat and in the propane tank, officers said.
Police said it's probably a case of money laundering.

"Rolls of money stuffed inside the propane tank -- it's not normal to see someone with that much cash. It's usually for drugs, etc.," said Lt. Colin Davidson with the Rosenberg Police Department. "(Highway) 59 is a drug corridor from the south to the north."

The case is under investigation and charges could be filed, police said.
Rosenberg police said it's up to a court to award the money back to the police department. In that case, it would be used for equipment, training and other necessities, but not salaries.

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