On April 14, 2020, at approximately 1:00 p.m., a CHP officer conducted an enforcement stop on a Ford F-150 for following too close to vehicles.

During the course of the contact, the officer noticed several indicators of criminal activity.

CHP K9 Officer Bruce was called in to sniff the vehicle and alerted to the odor of narcotics. The driver of the vehicle also gave verbal and written permission to search the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed approximately $200,000 in currency inside a freezer container located in the bed of the vehicle.

The currency was hidden under bags of frozen french fries. The driver was transported to the Merced CHP Area Office for further investigation.

Further investigation led officers to believe the money was derived from the sale of narcotics. A charge of possession of currency derived from the sale of narcotics is pending.