Pounds of Cocaine and Meth Seized Near Woodburn

OSP Traffic Stop Leads to Three Arrests, Seizure of 21 Kilos of Cocaine and 2 Pounds of Crystal Meth.

(WOODBURN, Ore.) - Oregon State Police Drug Enforcement Section detectives are continuing an investigation following a Friday afternoon traffic stop on Interstate 5 in the Woodburn area and arrest of three men allegedly transporting 21 kilos of Cocaine and two pounds of crystal methamphetamine.

At approximately 3:09 PM Friday, two Oregon State Police troopers, one with a drug detection canine, were working traffic enforcement along Interstate 5 north of Salem when they both saw a 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe sport utility vehicle with Washington license plates having difficulty maintaining a single lane of travel.

The troopers stopped the vehicle with three occupants northbound near milepost 271 at the bottom of the off ramp to Woodburn.

Upon contacting the driver, 20-year old Arturo Madrid-Suarez of Mt. Vernon, Washington, the troopers noted he was very nervous. Consent to search the vehicle was granted, and with the assistance of the drug detection canine the troopers discovered a hidden interior compartment. Closer examination of the hidden compartment revealed it contained 21 kilos of Cocaine, (approximately 45 pounds) and two pounds of Crystal Methamphetamine.

The three occupants were taken into custody without incident. The passengers were identified as 26-year old Eligio Davila-Gamez of Pittsburg, California, and 23-year old Oscar Legaspi-Gutierrez of Antioch, California.

In addition to INS holds, the three men were lodged in Marion County Jail each on the following charges:

1) Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance – Cocaine
2) Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine
3) Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance – Cocaine
4) Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine
5) Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance – Cocaine
6) Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance – Cocaine
7) Conspiracy to Possess a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine
8) Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine

Oregon State Police Drug Enforcement Section (OSP DES) detectives estimate the value of the seized drugs at approximately $500,000. It is believed to be one of the largest Oregon State Police traffic-related Cocaine seizures in several years.

OSP DES is being assisted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Woodburn Fire Department personnel assisted at the scene. Due to the ongoing investigation, further details related to the transportation and concealment of the drugs will not be provided.

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MATTHEW January 23, 2008 2:06 pm (Pacific time)

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE DRUGS THAT WERE SIEZED WERE FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER IN MEXICO, WHEN WILL WE FINALLY SECURE THE BORDERS AND STOP THIS CHAOS. ILLIGAL ALIENS BRINGING DRUGS AS USUAL FRM SOUTH OF THE BORDER. I PRAY TO GOD ONE DAY THAT WE AS AMERICANS WILL WAKE UP AND FACE WHAT WE CALL REALITY. IT SEEMS THAT WE REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHO WANTS TO COME TO AMERICA TO LIVE A BETTER LIFE AND TO WORK AND RAISE THIR FAMILIES . HOW DO WE REALLY KNOW THIER CRIMINAL BACKGROUND SINCE THEY ARE ILLIGAL AND HAVE NO DOCUMENTS ? FOR ALL WE KNOW WE COULD HAVE SIERIAL KILLERS OR CHILD MOLESTERS WHO ARE ILLIGALLY FROM MEXICO!!!!

Nizhoni November 19, 2007 12:23 pm (Pacific time)

good job you guys keep thats stuff way it a wasr of time... so go jobs thank you for keeping are people safe thank you ~NiZhOnI~

james October 26, 2007 2:14 pm (Pacific time)

Pigs, go screw yourselves thinking your all high and mighty screwing peoples lifes over and keeping the streets "safe." woopy de doo you caught someone with some coke and you think you have stopped all drug deals. The war on drugs will never end and your laws will keep causing people to die and suffer from it. So keep overflowing those jails and do what you do best sitting on your thrown of power thinking your higher than the government itself.

Editor: James, I had to edit this down somewhat, I don't think your point is lost.

Sarah October 23, 2007 8:11 pm (Pacific time)

Great job troopers and Reggie the drug dog. Thanks for keeping our highways safe!

don October 22, 2007 5:37 pm (Pacific time)

Way to go, state troopers! Job well done~~!!!!!!

mawari October 22, 2007 10:20 am (Pacific time)

Sleighing across the steppes of Russia, when the wolfpack got too close to the family, they would throw out one of the babies to slow the wolves down and let the rest escape. I am wondering if there isn't the same mechanism at work here. What should ideally happen is to let them serve their sentence in Mexico so they can be rehabilitated in their own world. With the cocaine, poison it and put it back out on the street with a "free" sign. Soon there won't be any addicts left.

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