GULFPORT, Miss. – Harrison County Sheriff Matt Haley announced Monday the arrests of four men in two separate drug trafficking cases that resulted in the seizure of more than 120 pounds of cocaine.
On Thursday, August 14, at approximately 10:12 a.m., a Harrison County deputy conducted a traffic stop on a black Chevrolet van for a traffic violation at the 28-mile marker on Interstate 10 East in Gulfport. The driver, identified as 32-year-old Hector Rodriguez-Valdez of Mexico, was questioned after the deputy became suspicious of possible drug trafficking.
A narcotic-detecting canine was brought in and alerted to the presence of narcotics. A subsequent search uncovered a hidden compartment built within lumber inside the van containing 118 pounds of cocaine, according to HCSO.
Rodriguez-Valdez, along with two passengers—26-year-old Bryan Rodriguez-Valdez and 26-year-old Raul Quijas-Aguero, also from Mexico—were arrested on federal drug trafficking charges. All three were booked into the Harrison County Jail without bond, pending federal judicial proceedings. Federal immigration holds were also placed on each suspect by U.S. Border Patrol. Homeland Security Investigations is assisting in the case.
In an unrelated incident on Friday, August 15, Harrison County’s Criminal Interdiction Patrol Division conducted a traffic stop at the 35-mile marker on Interstate 10 East in Gulfport. Deputies made contact with 47-year-old Christopher Gill of Florida. A search of his luggage revealed 4.4 pounds of cocaine.
Gill was arrested and charged with felony drug trafficking. Judge Fountain issued a $250,000 bond in his case. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was notified of the seizure.
Sheriff Haley commended the efforts of deputies and partnering federal agencies in removing dangerous narcotics from circulation.
