Overnight traffic stop leads to seizure of 25 kg of illegal drugs in Jones County

JONES COUNTY, Miss. (WDAM) – An overnight traffic stop resulted in the Jones County Sheriff’s Department’s largest drug seizure in recent memory after 25 kilograms of illegal drugs were seized.

According to JCSD, the interdiction unit imposed a traffic stop on a 2020 Jeep Gladiator traveling on Interstate 59 N near the 104 mile marker at approximately 10:15 p.m.

The sheriff’s department says the driver and passenger gave indications of possible illegal activity.

Initially, consent to search the vehicle was given but was refused by the driver, resulting in JCSD Patrol Deputy James Bell and K9 Balder being called to the scene.

K9 Balder alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics near the rear of the vehicle which led to the probable reason for searching the vehicle which led JCSD narcotics officers to find 25 kilograms of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine in a well-hidden compartment of the vehicle.

“The total weight of the heroin, fentanyl and cocaine is about 55 pounds or 25 kilos,” the JCSD Narcotics Division Sgt. Jake Driskell. “There is enough fentanyl in a single pound of heroin and fentanyl mixed that has been seized and tested to kill half the population of Jones County.”

According to the sheriff’s department, the street value of the illegal drugs is $5,000,000.

Deyci Delapaz, 32, of McAllen, Texas, and Anagabriela Peña, 18, of Bronx, NY., were both arrested and charged with aggravated drug trafficking. The Mississippi state charge carries a 25-year sentence if convicted.

The JCSD is currently in talks with federal authorities to see if they will accept the case with the possibility of a life sentence if convicted.

“This is a major illegal narcotics seizure, which was obviously destined for a major metropolitan drug market,” Jones County Sheriff Joe Berlin said. “Absolutely a fabulous job by our interdiction, narcotics and patrol deputies in stopping this traffic, uncovering the massive amount of well concealed illegal narcotics and making both arrests.”

Delapaz and Peña are scheduled to have their first appearance in Jones County Court on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Copyright 2022 WDAM. All rights reserved.

Want more WDAM 7 news delivered to your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.