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07/14/2017 12:00 AMAn Ohio man is under arrest in Branford after eight packages of narcotics were found in a duffle bag during a traffic stop.
Officer Josef Herten of the Branford Police Department stopped a car operated by Maria Zambrano, 20, of Canton Ohio, containing two children and Carlos Alberto Hernandez-Salazar, 27, also of Canton, Ohio, on Wednesday, July 12 because the vehicle had very heavily tinted windows.
During the traffic stop Officer Herten noticed that Zambrano and Hernandez-Salazar were acting unusually nervous and suspicious. Officer Herten and Officer John Abely, who was assisting on the stop, asked Hernandez-Salazar to exit the vehicle. Hernandez-Salazar agreed to allow Officer Herten to search the trunk portion of the vehicle where eight packages of narcotics were found inside of a duffle bag.
Hernandez-Salazar was later transported to police headquarters where he was originally charged with criminal attempt for possession of narcotics and risk of injury to a minor. He was held on a $250,000 bond and was arraigned in New Haven Court on Thursday, July 13.
Laboratory analysis of the substances found in the packages determined that the narcotics included a mixture of Fentanyl and Tramadol, both opioids, with a street value of $2 million. As a result, at his arraignment, the charges against Hernandez-Salazar were increased to include possession of narcotics with intent to sell and his bond was raised to $500,000.
Chief Kevin Halloran said that he is extremely pleased by the seizure.
"Our community, along with many others throughout our nation, has been plagued with this extremely dangerous drug. Its use has resulted in the loss of life of many of our citizens. I'm hopeful that this good work by our officers has prevented the possibility of another opioid related death."