Mississippi authorities detained a Guatemalan man on aggravated drug trafficking charges after a traffic stop on Interstate 10 led to 22 pounds of cocaine.
Diego Valdez-Marroquin, 33, was stopped by a Harrison County Sheriff’s Office deputy on Sunday, July 6, near the 39-mile marker of I-10 East in Gulfport for a traffic violation.
During the stop, the deputy became suspicious about drug trafficking activity. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a significant amount of cocaine hidden inside.
Valdez-Marroquin was detained and booked into Harrison County Jail. He is facing a felony allegation of aggravated drug trafficking. Harrison County Justice Court Judge Brandon Ladner set his bond at $200,000.
The US Border Patrol has placed a federal immigration hold on Valdez-Marroquin. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United States Border Patrol assisted inย the investigation.
