An Illinois man is behind bars after a major drug bust on I-80 in Lancaster County Tuesday afternoon. LSO Chief Deputy Ben Houchin says deputies stopped a vehicle for several traffic violations near the 56th Street exit.
“He was stopped for speeding, following too close, failure to signal and driving on the shoulder.” Houchin says a K9 unit indicated the presence of drugs and a probable cause search was conducted.
“During the search of the vehicle, 44 pounds of cocaine was located in the cargo area of the van in heat-sealed bags,” Houchin says. The drugs have an estimated street value of $700,000. 47-year-old Artur Hysa was arrested for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and no drug tax stamp.
Houchin says this was one of their biggest stops and believes the drugs were being taken back to Illinois to be distributed. He says cocaine is not a drug they see very often in the county and that methamphetamines are the number one problem in Lancaster County.
(Photo: Lancaster County Department of Corrections)