Two routine traffic stops in Pineville turned into a major narcotics bust this month, after a police K-9 alerted on both vehicles and investigators ultimately recovered 4 kilograms of cocaine and 10 firearms, including a search of a nearby apartment complex. Three men were taken into custody in connection with the investigation.
According to the Pineville Police Department, the department worked alongside Homeland Security Investigations and Homeland Security Task Force officers on a narcotics trafficking investigation that culminated in the stops. Officers pulled over two vehicles connected to the case, and Task Force Officer Kimel deployed K-9 partner Max to conduct open-air sniffs of both cars. Max alerted on both vehicles, giving investigators probable cause to search them.
That search turned up approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine and a Glock 17L handgun, per the department’s account. The investigation then led agents and officers to an apartment complex, where they found an additional 2 kilograms of cocaine and nine more firearms — bringing the total haul to 4 kilograms of cocaine and 10 guns combined.
Three Men Taken Into Custody
Antonio Santos-Gonzales, 41, and Ovando Gutierrez-Pacheco, 33, were both arrested on October 17, according to department booking records cited by the Pineville Police Department. A third man, Efrain Torres-Mejia, was also taken into custody in connection with the investigation, though his arrest details were not included in the department’s release. The Pineville Police Department described the operation as a partnership between the local agency and federal law enforcement aimed at disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking networks to keep the community safe…