By The Porterville Recorder
A detective from the Porterville Police Department Special Investigations Unit at about 6 p.m. on Thursday night conducted a traffic stop on Highway 65 north of Teapot Dome. During the traffic stop investigators requested the assistance of a Porterville police K-9 team for a vehicle search.

During the search, investigators found more than five pounds of suspected crystal methamphetamine. The driver, Noe Sanchez, and the passenger, John Sanchez, were taken into custody for transportation of a controlled substance, according to a news release from the police.

Detectives then served two narcotic search warrants. The first search warrant was in the 1900 block of West Roby Ave. and the second was in the 400 Block of East Olivewood Street. During the service of the search warrants, Roque Rios and Rachel Trujillo were detained, police said.

During the search of the residences detectives found about 15 pounds of crystal methamphetamine with a street value in excess of $490,000. Detectives also located approximately $400,000 to $500,000 in U.S. currency, scales, packaging materials, and other evidence indicating a conspiracy to sell, transport and distribute crystal methamphetamine, police said.

The suspects were arrested and booked for possession, transportation and distribution of suspected crystal methamphetamine, maintaining a residence where illegal narcotics are being sold and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, police said.

Rios, Noe Sanchez and John Sanchez were booked at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Departments Porterville Substation and are being held in lieu of a $10 million bail. Trujillo was booked at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department, Bob Wiley Detention Facility and is being held in lieu of a $500,000 bail.

The case is still under investigation.