Police say $500k cash found in tractor trailer was bundled and concealed in a way consistent with drug trafficking; no arrests announced.
GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — More than $500,000 in cold hard cash was discovered carefully hidden inside a tractor-trailer during a traffic stop along Interstate 85 this week — and police say the way it was packaged raised major red flags tied to drug trafficking and money laundering.
According to Gaston County Police Department, the truck was pulled over Tuesday, February 3, for a routine traffic violation. But what started as a basic stop quickly turned into something much bigger after a K-9 unit alerted to the odor of narcotics.
That alert triggered an extensive search of the trailer — and that’s when investigators uncovered the jackpot.
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Police say the money was packaged in individual bundles and hidden inside cardboard boxes packed throughout the trailer. Photos released by authorities show the truck loaded wall-to-wall with boxes — some of which allegedly contained tens of thousands of dollars each.
Investigators noted that the bundling and concealment methods matched techniques commonly associated with large-scale drug operations and money laundering schemes.
In a statement, police said:
“The Gaston County Police Department remains committed to reducing the prevalence of dangerous drugs and combating criminal activity in our community. These efforts are part of our mission to foster a safer, more secure environment for all residents of Gaston County.”
No arrests have been made. Police confirmed the investigation is still ongoing and did not release information about who was driving the truck, where the money was headed, or who it belonged to.
