Sheriff: Two suspects charged with cocaine trafficking after being stopped on I-77

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Two men are facing drug trafficking charges after being stopped by Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputies for a moving violation on Interstate 77.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced in a news release the arrests of Nery Rolando Amaya-Maldonado, 30, of Franklinville, NJ, and Edwin Jafeth Vargas-Flores, 27, of Clementon, NJ.

Officers from the ICSO Interstate Criminal Enforcement Team conducted a traffic stop on a GMC with New Jersey plates for a violation on Interstate 77 North near mile marker 63 on Monday, November 4.

The driver, identified as Amaya-Maldonado, and passenger, identified as Vargas-Flores, told officers they were traveling back to New Jersey from South Carolina, Campbell said.

During the stop, officers observed indicators of criminal activity and searched the vehicle, the news release said.

During the search, officers found approximately three ounces of cocaine wrapped in tape and hidden in the vehicle, Campbell said.

Amaya-Maldonado and Vargas-Flores were arrested and taken to the Iredell County Detention Center where they were charged with felony trafficking in cocaine by possession, misdemeanor trafficking in cocaine by transportation, misdemeanor possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine , misdemeanor maintaining a vehicle for the sale of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both suspects appeared before Magistrate Nethken and received a $350,000 secured bond.