MARSHALL, Texas (KETK) – 43 kilograms of cocaine were seized on Sunday by Marshall police after a traffic stop.

According to officials, a semi-truck was stopped around 3:30 p.m. in the 1500 block of South East End Boulevard due to the driver speeding.

“During that traffic stop, they developed probable cause that there was more going on,” Marshall Police Chief Cliff Carruth said.

When they searched the truck, they reportedly found 39 plastic-wrapped bundles of cocaine police said is estimated to have a street value of $4 million.

“39 packages of cocaine which weighed out to approximately 43 kilos, if you multiply that out that’s about 94 pounds of cocaine,” Carruth said.

Marshallcocainebust
Photo courtesy of Marshall police.
Mugshot of Ariel Martinez.
Mugshot courtesy of Harrison County Jail.

The driver, identified as Ariel Martinez, 34 of Elgin, Ill., was arrested and booked into the Harrison County Jail before being released on a $100,000 bond. Carruth said this bust could be part of a larger organization.

“Certainly, some type of large operation sending that much,” Carruth said.

The investigation is ongoing.