State Police seize over $143,000 of suspected drug cash during traffic stop Tuesday

Standing left to right: KSP Sergeant Lafe Owens, Williamsburg Police Officer Brandon Prewitt, KSP-CVE Officer Duffy Sutton, KSP Trooper Ryan Loudermilk kneeling is KSP-CVE Officer Landry Collett and his K-9 partner, members of the KSP criminal interdiction team that seized the cash Tuesday.

A traffic stop on Interstate-75 Tuesday morning led Kentucky State Police to more than $143,000 in suspected drug money.

According to Trooper Don Trosper, public affairs officer at Post 11 in London, troopers found the money hidden in the driver’s luggage after stopping him for speeding on southbound I-75 near the seven mile marker.

"The officers found something that led them to suspect that unlawful activity was occurring and ask for consent to search the vehicle," Trosper said.

The driver gave consent and the officers found the cash totaling $143,755 hidden in shoe boxes inside the luggage.

The officers, who are members of the KSP Post 11 Criminal Interdiction Team, contacted Drug Enforcement Agency, who have taken over the case.

Any charges as a result of the investigation will come from DEA agents, Trosper said, noting the charges will likely be filed in federal court.

Trosper said the name of the driver has not been released in order not to interfere with the DEA’s investigation.

The driver was reportedly traveling from Ohio to one of the southern states with the cash. However, Trosper said there is nothing to indicate it is connected to a recent case in which vehicle enforcement stopped an SUV for speeding on northbound I-75 and found $125,000 worth of marijuana.

The driver of the SUV admitted he had picked up the marijuana in Atlanta, Ga. And was delivering it to Cincinnati, Ohio.