Kids were used as decoys to push 15 bricks of cocaine into Charlotte
Estefani Sandoval, 31, and Gilberto Juarez, 30, were arrested on August 11, 2025 in Marshville, NC. The suspects are accused of hauling 15 kilograms of cocaine in a vehicle with kids inside.
Gilberto Juarez and Estefani Sandoval
Estefani and Gilberto were in a vehicle with 4 kids in the car also. A cop with the Union County Sheriff’s Office got intelligence briefings on the suspects allegedly trafficking drugs.
The officer spotted the suspect vehicle and began a traffic stop. The stop led to a major cocaine seizure.
Cops used a minor equipment violation as an excuse to pull the suspects over. During the stop, cops sent a canine to conduct an open air sniff of the suspect car.
The snitch dog alerted to the presence of narcotics. A subsequent search revealed the large quantity of 15 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside the car in the presence of the 4 children.
The kids were used as a decoy by the suspects. Estefani and Gilberto were arrested charged with felony trafficking in cocaine.
The four small children were ultimately released to a responsible guardian who was called to the scene.
The suspects were transported to the Union County Detention Center for processing and appeared before local judicial officials.
