Police also found a digital scale, packaging material, $600 in
cash and several rounds of ammunition in the vehicle
Gilroy – Sheriff’s deputies confiscated $31,500 worth of methamphetamine and a stolen handgun from a Gilroy woman and Morgan Hill man on a routine traffic stop in San Martin early Wednesday.
When police pulled over Antoinette Marie Hernandez, 29, for a minor traffic violation, they found a lot more than a driver with expired registration tabs.
Hernandez was wanted on a $7,500 warrant for burglary and passenger George Barraza Jr., 35, was on active parole.
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputies searched the vehicle about 1:40am and discovered 31.5 grams of methamphetamine separated into 12 baggies, a digital scale, and packaging material. Street value for the drug is about $31,500 for the total confiscated, police said.
Two handguns guns were also found in the vehicle, one is confirmed stolen, the other has altered serial numbers, which has made tracking the gun difficult.
According to Deputy Serg Palanov, the two had $600 in cash – believed to have been from meth sales – and several rounds of ammunition in the vehicle. Neither Barraza nor Hernandez was known to police for selling drugs in the area before.
Barraza was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine for sales, transportation of a controlled substance, being a felon in possession of a concealed and loaded firearm, and possession of a firearm with altered serial numbers.
Hernandez was arrested on the warrant and on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine for sales and transportation of a controlled substance.
“It was being at the right place at the right time,” Palanov said.
