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While it’s a good thing that police officers in California found 50 lbs of meth hidden in a SUV, the driver gave himself away. One decision that the driver made allowed officers to easily find $681,000 worth of illegal drugs in a suitcase. 

California police find 50 lbs of meth in SUV

While you shouldn’t transport illegal drugs in your vehicle, it’s important to know your rights. The owner of a Ford Expedition made a simple mistake that allowed police officers to discover 50 lbs of meth. 

An officer in Merced, California decided to pull over a 2024 Ford Expedition around 6:48 PM on Interstate 5. During the routine traffic stop, the officer noticed several factors that made him suspicious of criminal activity. 

Then the driver provided the officer with permission to search his SUV. As a result, a K-9 officer found 50 lbs of meth hidden inside a suitcase on the passenger side of the vehicle. 

This amount of methamphetamine is worth $681,000. According to KMPH, the driver was arrested and the case was passed to the DEA. 

But the driver may have gotten away if he didn’t consent to a vehicle search. Police officers need a warrant, probable cause, or reason to lawfully arrest you to search your vehicle without permission. 

Probable cause to search a vehicle in California include visible evidence of illegal items or odors such as marijuana smoke or alcohol. But here’s where things get tricky. Observed behavior or events such as furtive movements or nervousness can contribute to probable cause. 

It’s unclear what suspicious behavior the arresting officer noticed, or if he had probable cause. However, the driver still consented to a search. Things could have been different if he said no.