A routine traffic stop in California led to a major cocaine seizure after a police K-9 detected approximately 200 kilograms—about 440 pounds—of the drug allegedly concealed among cardboard boxes inside an SUV, authorities said.
The Alhambra Police Department said officers pulled the vehicle over on Valley Boulevard near the 710 Freeway.
Police did not disclose the reason for the stop, but officers quickly noticed that the SUV appeared to be carrying an unusually large load of boxes.
“The driver was transporting more cardboard boxes than Amazon on Prime Day,” the department quipped in a social media post.
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Alhambra police said K-9 Otis located approximately 200 kilograms, or nearly 440 pounds, of cocaine that was allegedly loaded inside the SUV. (Alhambra Police Department)
The driver then offered officers an explanation for the cargo, according to police.
“At first, he said he was heading home to Huntington Park from his cousin’s house and that the boxes were not his,” police wrote.
Authorities said his account later changed.
“Later came version 2.0 of his lore,” the department said, adding that the driver claimed he was delivering diesel parts to a shop owned by a friend.
That was when Otis and his handler joined the investigation.
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Alhambra police credited K-9 Otis with helping uncover approximately 200 kilograms of cocaine during the traffic stop. (Alhambra Police Department)
Otis alerted officers to the SUV, giving police probable cause to search the vehicle, authorities said.
“Thanks to Otis’ top-tier nose, he alerted to the vehicle, and officers discovered the SUV was packed with approximately 200 kilos of cocaine,” the department said.
The driver, identified by police as Julio Rangel of Huntington Park, was arrested and booked into the Alhambra Police Department jail.
After the seizure, officers singled out Otis as the key figure in the drug bust.
Alhambra police praised K-9 Otis after his alert led to the discovery of an SUV allegedly carrying about 440 pounds of cocaine. (Alhambra Police Department)
“A round of a-paws for our good boy, K9 Otis,” police posted.
Social media users joined in, praising the dog’s performance and joking that Otis deserved a promotion—possibly all the way to police chief.
“Give that dog a bone!” another user exclaimed.
One user joked about Otis’ ability to sniff out criminals.
“No One escapes from the Long Paw of …. The DOG”
Others suggested that, at the very least, Otis deserved a big steak dinner.
