$1.1 Million in Cocaine Seized

A weekend traffic stop yielded 65 kilograms of suspected cocaine. The street value of the suspected cocaine is approximately $1.1 million. 

(PENUELAS-MEDINA)

District 12 Illinois State Police officers made the seizure. A trooper initiated the traffic stop on a rental truck at 1:31pm Saturday along I-70 near St. Elmo for traffic violations. During the stop, officers discovered the cocaine. 

The driver, 53-year-old Emigdio Penuelas-Medina of Las Vegas, Nevada, was charged with trafficking a controlled substance and was taken to Fayette County Jail in Vandalia. 

The Fayette County State's Attorney's Office and the Southeastern Illinois Drug Task Force assisted with the investigation.

District 12 State Police Commander Captain Cory Ristvedt said, "The Illinois State Police remain focused on battling the unlawful trafficking of illicit substances and criminal activity in and around our communities."