Texas DPS Stops Along I-40 Result in Two Meth Arrests

Two DPS traffic stops have resulted in federal drug charges for two people.

Two unrelated traffic stops by Texas DPS troopers along Interstate 40 in Carson County last week have resulted in the arrest and subsequent charges of two men with possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Shortly before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 16^th, a DPS trooper stopped the driver of a Toyota Corolla for following too closely to an 18-wheeler. The Corolla was rented from Hertz in California, and driven by Mayra Ramirez, with Hugo Beltran-Ruiz as the passenger.

After the trooper issued them a traffic citation, he received consent to search the vehicle, and found around 10 pounds of methamphetamine in vacuum-sealed bundles hidden in the vehicle’s rear door panels. Ramirez denied any knowledge of the drugs, and Beltran-Ruiz acknowledged that he transported the methamphetamine from Ontario, California to an intended location in Oklahoma.

In another traffic stop, a DPS trooper stopped the driver of a Toyota Camry at around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 17^th for following too closely to another vehicle.

The Camry was driven by Marixa Alfaro, and the passenger identified himself as Paul Aranda. Officers found that the passenger lied about his identity, and was actually Elider Garcia, a previously deported felon with Mexican citizenship.

Officers found around 7 pounds of methamphetamine hidden between the glove box and the firewall. Alfaro denied any knowledge of the drugs, and Garcia said that he was transporting the methamphetamine from Los Angeles, California.

The U.S. Attorney’s office has 30 days to present the matter to a grand jury for indictment. The penalty for the offense is not less than 10 years or more than life in federal prison and a $10 million fine.