Police seize two pounds of ‘pure’ meth

By TARA JENNINGS

Penaloza Ledger Staff Writer

Two pounds of methamphetamine was seized Friday by agents with the Cherokee County Metro Narcotics Unit and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

The “ice” or purest form of methamphetamine, has a street value of approximately $44,800 if sold as is, or without being “cut” with other agents, according to police.

Ramiro Toreas Penaloza, 23, of Los Angeles and Martin Castro Andrade, 20, of Sanford, N.C., are each charged by Agent Joey Guyton of the Narcotics Unit with trafficking methamphetamine more than 400 grams.

Andrade Andrade is also charged by the sheriff’s office with improper display of a vehicle license plate and having no driver’s license.

Both men remain jailed in lieu of $100,000 bond.

Sheriff’s Deputy Bo Caughman stopped the vehicle the two men were in at about 8:30 p.m. as they were traveling south on Interstate 85.

Caughman and Guyton received permission to search the vehicle and discovered a gallon-size plastic bag containing the meth.

This bag of “ice” was seized during a traffic stop on I-85.