Cocaine & Shrine Found During Traffic Stop: Is The Cartel In Oklahoma?

Oklahoma County deputies arrested a suspected drug mule traveling through the state. A traffic-stop on Interstate 40 near Choctaw Road on Tuesday led to a drug bust with possible ties to the cartel.

Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson told media on Thursday his deputies and canines not only found a large amount of cocaine, but they discovered items in the suspect’s car that are typically tied to the cartel.

A kilo of cocaine, allegedly labeled by the cartel.

“Often the label for the cartels is their product identifier,” said Sheriff Tommie Johnson, Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office.

A La Santa Muerte candle shrine was inside the BMW 42-year-old Edwin Urbina was driving.

“Cartels believe these icons will protect them from evil, and they consider police to be evil,” said Johnson.

Deputies zeroed in on the suspect's car due to its Arizona paper tag and the driver was allegedly following to closely to the vehicle in front. The deputy conducted a traffic stop. The deputy noted in court documents Urbina had a temporary driver's license from California, was acting nervous and made a phone call during the stop.

“These are indicators we’re looking at,” said Johnson. “Maybe we need to go further into the stop.”

A canine was brought to the scene to inspect the suspect's car.

“The dog made a positive hit on the area of the car near the backseat by the wheel well,” said Johnson.

Deputies said that was the area where the suspect hid three pounds of cocaine and a loaded revolver. Urbina was arrested on multiple complaints including suspicion of drug trafficking.

“He clearly had cocaine marked by cartel markings and all the indicators of a Cartel mule,” said Johnson.

Court documents showed Urbina was possibly in the United States illegally and border patrol had a warrant for his arrest.