Salem Traffic Stop Nets $90,000; Wanted California Fugitive

This is the largest cash seizure associated with an OSP traffic stop in the Salem area since February 12th, 2006.

Photo: Oregon State Police

(SALEM) - Oregon State Police troopers arrested two people, one who was wanted as a fugitive from justice, and seized more than $90,000 cash during a traffic stop Tuesday morning on Interstate 5 about two miles north of Salem.

At approximately 11:30 AM an OSP senior trooper stopped a 2003 BMW 525i displaying California plates southbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 262 for a speed violation after it was detected going 79 mph in a 65 mph area.

Additional OSP troopers and "Reggie", an OSP drug detection dog, and a Salem police officer responded to assist.

The driver initially identified himself using a fictitious Washington driver's license. Later, he was positively identified as 28-year-old Saul Olivares, from Salem. The passenger was also later identified as 31-year-old Seliciano Sandoval, no confirmed address.

During the stop, the OSP drug detection dog alerted on the vehicle. Troopers searched the car and found $90,026.00 cash in a car stereo box located in the trunk. No illegal drugs were found.

Both men were taken into custody and subsequently lodged in Marion County Jail.

Saul Olivares was lodged for:

• Money Laundering
• Fugitive From Justice (felony warrant out of Sacramento, California for Dangerous Drugs)
• Fugitive From Justice (felony warrant out of Merced, California for Conspiracy to Possess and Deliver Methamphetamine)
• Fugitive From Justice (felony warrant held by US Marshal Service for Fraud)
• He was also cited for Furnishing False Information to a Police Officer, Possession of Fictitious Identification, and Exceeding the Speed Limit.

Seliciano Sandoval was lodged for:

• Money Laundering

The investigation is continuing and no further information will be released.

This is the largest cash seizure associated with an OSP traffic stop in the Salem area since February 12th, 2006 when approximately $472,000 was seized near milepost 260.