Published November 30, 2007

Illegal alien arrested in cocaine bust

The Phelps County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday arrested an illegal alien for cocaine trafficking when $480,000 worth of cocaine was discovered in his vehicle during a traffic stop, according to Andy Davis, a detective with the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department.

Alejandro Medina-Ontiveros, a 29-year-old who claimed residency in Dallas, Texas, was arrested for first-degree drug trafficking. Investigation determined Medina-Ontiveros had entered the United States illegally and somehow obtained a Texas driver’s license.

Medina-Ontiveros was stopped on Interstate 44 near St. James while driving a Ford pickup with a California license plate. He feigned speaking English, so the deputy proceeded to speak in Spanish. During the conversation, the deputy began to suspect there were illegal items in the vehicle. A K-9 was used to detect the presence of illegal narcotics and a subsequent search found 6 kilos of cocaine hidden inside the rear seat cushions.

Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration will continue the investigation.

www.news-leader.com