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K9's Nose Leads To Major Marijuana Stash

MADERA COUNTY – Agents with the Madera County Narcotic Task Force are celebrating a major find, all thanks to one CHP drug sniffing canine named “Aaron.”

Close to 130 pounds of processed marijuana was taken off the streets last week as a result of a single CHP enforcement stop Thursday night, Oct 24.

CHP K9 Officer Lloyd Pratt stopped a vehicle on CA-99 in Madera County. His partner K9 Aaron alerted on the vehicle, resulting in the seizure of six pounds of packaged processed marijuana, and the arrest of 24-year-old Jesus Soto, Jr.

That one CHP stop led Madera Narcotic Enforcement Team (MADNET) agents to a house in Madera, where a couple of hours later, K9 Aaron’s nose led officers to even more marijuana.

Gabriela FloresInside the home, equipped with a sophisticated surveillance system capable of monitoring the entire property 24/7, agents found 122 pounds of packaged processed marijuana, and took 27-year-old Gabriela Flores into custody.

“There was marijuana everywhere,” noted one MADNET agent, who said the home was littered with packages of processed marijuana. They were found stashed in cupboards, closets, dresser drawers, and even under beds.

Two small children found living in the home, were removed from the residence and placed in the care of relatives, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Two loaded firearms were also seized during the operation.

Agents say the estimated street value of the entire load of processed marijuana would have netted the pair nearly $154,000.

Meantime, Soto and Flores remain behind bars, booked into the Madera County Department of Corrections on $500,000 bond. They are facing numerous felony charges which include weapons, possession of marijuana for sale, transportation of marijuana for sale, and child endangerment.

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Sierra News Online

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