15 bricks of cocaine were in a vehicle on I-85 near Charlotte
Faustino Napoleo Ruiz-Juarez, 40, and 24-year-old Josue Ortiz-Villeda were arrested on April 19, 2026 during a 15 kilogram cocaine traffic stop in Gaston County NC. An ICE detainer was lodged on Faustino.
Cops conducted a traffic stop on a Ford Explorer SUV that Josue and Faustino were in. A canine was deployed and allegedly alerted to the scent of drugs, although sometimes cops lie about the dog alerting to drugs.
Cops searched the vehicle and discovered 15 kilograms of cocaine wrapped in tan bags along with one 9 mm gun.
Josue and Faustino were arrested charged with cocaine trafficking and maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance. The two are currently in jail custody at the Gaston County Jail without bond. Faustino was found to not be an American citizen and ICE put a detainer request on him, he will likely be deported after his court trial and possible prison sentence.
