Traffic stop in Port Allen leads to $1.1M cash seizure, drugs, and arrest

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A routine traffic stop on Feb. 14 led to a major drug and cash seizure in West Baton Rouge Parish.

Shortly before 9:30 a.m., a Louisiana State Police trooper conducted a traffic stop on LA 415, just north of Interstate 10, pulling over a 2019 International Harvester tractor-trailer for inspection. 

LSP officials said the stop resulted in the arrest of 29-year-old Lenny Collado, of Charlotte, NC.

According to state police, the trooper was performing a Level 2 CMV Inspection when they noticed a white plastic bag on the floorboard containing what appeared to be a large sum of cash. This discovery led to a full search of the vehicle, with assistance from West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office deputies.

During the search, officials said authorities recovered approximately $1,147,638, along with 183 pounds of suspected marijuana and seven grams of suspected cocaine.

Collado was arrested and charged with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids and transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses. He was booked into the West Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

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