The Police News
October 21, 2009

The Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force, which is a Houston HIDTA Initiative (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area), conducted a narcotic investigation targeting organized drug traffickers transporting illegal narcotics into Fort Bend County.

Sheriff's Office spokesperson Terriann Carlson said on Wednesday, February 17, 2008, Highway Criminal Interdiction Investigators with the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office initiated a narcotics investigation on a tractor trailer near the intersection of U.S. 59 and FM 762, Richmond, Texas. The investigation culminated when Investigators conducted a traffic stop of a tractor-trailer traveling northbound on U.S. 59. The tractor-trailer was being operated by the sole occupant identified as Guadalupe Perales W/M Dob: 6-9-76, of Mercedes, Texas. Drug agents from the Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force, conducted a search of the vehicle and discovered approximately 3,348 lbs. of Marijuana and over 200 grams of Cocaine. The Cocaine was hidden in the tractor portion of the rig while the Marijuana had been cleverly hidden in specially designed containers in the trailer portion of rig.

Narcotics Agents of the Fort Bend County Task Force concluded through their investigation, the truck driver, Guadalupe Perales was a drug smuggler employed by an organization based in Mexico, Carlson said.

This Marijuana as well as the vehicle were seized by Narcotics Agents under the Chapter 59 Statute as proceeds gained from felony drug offenses and filed with the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office.

The truck driver, Guadalupe Perales was arrested on two offenses. The first offense, Possession of Marijuana, over 2000 lbs, and the second charge, Possession of a Controlled Substance, over 200 grams.

The wholesale value of the Marijuana is estimated at 2 million Dollars, according to Carlson.