(La Porte County, IN) - Close to 10 pounds of cocaine turned up during an Indiana Toll Road traffic stop on Wednesday in La Porte County.

 

Juan Aquino, 52, of Elizabeth, New Jersey has been charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 2 felony Dealing in Cocaine Or a Narcotic Drug.

 

According to court documents, a La Porte County Police officer monitoring traffic in the area spotted an eastbound Honda Civic tailgating another driver at about 12 p.m. outside of La Porte near the 46-mile marker.

 

After the officer caught up to the vehicle five miles later near Rolling Prairie, Aquino was still traveling less than one car length behind the other driver.

 

During a traffic stop, the officer’s suspicions were reportedly raised by how nervous Aquino seemed to be, judging by his rapid, shallow breathing and the reason he gave for traveling not adding up. Other red flags included the presence of anti-static dryer sheets and a Bible in plain view.

 

Authorities illustrated how dryer sheets, in vehicles containing little to no laundry, are often used to mask the smell of narcotics while Bibles are placed out in the open by some criminals so as to give law enforcement the impression they’re good people.

 

With help from a K-9 dog, two kilograms of cocaine, each in rectangular blocks wrapped in cellophane, were seized from underneath the back seat. Two more kilos of cocaine packaged similarly were found when a cover was removed near the gear shift, center console area of the vehicle.

 

La Porte County Police Chief of Detectives Andy Hynek noted that one kilo weighs 2.5 pounds, and estimated the value of the drugs conservatively at about $30,000.

 

“That’s a pretty substantial amount,” Hynek said.

 

No light was shed on where he allegedly obtained the drugs, but receipts on purchases show he had allegedly been in Colorado two days prior to his arrest.

 

Aquino is being held in the La Porte County Jail on $50,000 bond and could face anywhere from a 10 to 30-year sentence.