Drug bust leads Santa Cruz CHP to 14 guns, pile of bullets

(KRON) — A traffic stop in Watsonville led authorities to more than $15,000 worth of suspected fentanyl and a small hoard of guns.

The California Highway Patrol pulled over a 31-year-old Watsonville man around 2 p.m. Thursday. During the stop a CHP K9 hit on the smell of drugs in the man’s black Honda Sedan.

“During the stop, CHP K9 Rae alerted officers to the presence of drugs,” the CHP’s Santa Cruz office said. “A search revealed a plastic bag containing a controlled substance.”

A loaded gun magazine was also found inside the car and officers proceeded to search the driver’s home. The Santa Cruz County Auto Theft Reduction and Enforcement, Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, and the Watsonville Police Department all teamed up to search the home.

During the search officers confiscated 14 guns and dozens of cases of ammunition. The man was arrested for multiple felony drug and gun charges.