DEFUNIAK SPRINGS - A traffic stop on Interstate 10 in September led to a bigger investigation and more arrests, according to the Walton County Sheriff's Office.
A deputy pulled over the vehicle Sept. 20 for following another too closely, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release. The deputy noticed the driver acting nervously and used a police dog to inspect the vehicle. The dog alerted to the presence of drugs.
A small amount of marijuana and $103,820 in cash was found. The deputy suspectedthe money was to be used in drug deals.
The Drug Enforcement Administration took over the case. The money was seized and placed in evidence.
The driver of the vehicle was tied to a multi-state drug trafficking organization and admitted that the money was proceeds from criminal activity, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Information from the investigation led to searches in Orlando, where police DEA agents found 58 pounds of hydro marijuana, $186,766, 1 gram of cocaine, 2 grams of MDMA, one handgun and two vehicles. Three people were arrested.
The DEA has closed the case. The Sheriff’s Office will receive money from the investigation, which will be used for training and equipment.