Man Detained for Illegal Possession and Intent to Distribute over $1 million worth of drugs

20 pounds of crystal meth found in auto; driver arrested

Phoenix, AZ — A traffic stop this week on Interstate 40 yielded a big drug cache. According to authorities, the check point stop led to what Muskogee County Sheriff, Charles Pearson, called the “biggest crystal meth bust” he has ever seen.

The driver of the stopped vehicle, Michael Salas, was detained after the police discovered 20 pounds of crystal methamphetamine narcotic drugs in it. The twenty four year old man was booked into the Muskogee County/City Detention Facility on charges of trafficking illegal drugs and possession of controlled dangerous substance with the intention to distribute.

Pearson said the street value of the drugs ranged between $1 million to $1.2 million.

Michael Salas, held without bond on complaints of trafficking illegal drugs and possession of controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, is set for his initial appearance at 3 p.m. Monday.

According to a statement by Pearson, Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Gragg, a member of the Muskogee City/County Drug Task Force, pulled Salas’s car over Thursday afternoon for violating traffic rules and regulations. Salas' vehicle was reported to be out of lane, and was said to be weaving in and out of traffic.

Pearson said Gragg wrote a warning to Salas, who appeared edgy and nervous during the interrogation.

Pearson said Salas told Gragg that he had driven from Dallas to Fort Smith, Ark., to gamble at a casino. However, he couldn’t name the casino.

“The report says (Salas’) neck vein started pulsing when he was asked that question,” Pearson said. “When he was asked about marijuana, cocaine or meth that might be in the vehicle, he looked down and said no.”

Pearson said Gragg then looked in the back of the vehicle and saw large suitcases, which Salas claimed not to know the contents of.

“Basically, his story didn’t match up,” Pearson said.

Pearson said Gragg asked Salas whether he had any illegal items in the vehicle. Gragg opened the suitcases and found several bags containing crystal methamphetamine, Pearson said.

Gragg began to search the vehicle and found two cell phones, one of which was hidden deliberately in the car. Salas, who had a Georgia driver’s license, also had boarding passes from Mexico to Dallas.

He is being held without bond until his initial appearance at 3 p.m. on Monday.