Cranston police have released body-worn camera footage from a recent traffic stop that led officers to discover thousands of dollars worth of drugs hidden inside the car.
Teddy Lopez, 21, was pulled over last Thursday morning for not wearing a seat belt. He told police he was borrowing his cousin’s rental car and was headed to the mechanic for an oil change. While speaking with him, the officer reportedly noticed several “red flags” inside the car.
When asked if he had anything illegal in the car, such as cocaine or fentanyl, Lopez laughed in the bodycam footage but admitted he “smokes a lot of weed.”
The video showed the officer searching the car, pulling three cell phones from the center console along with a handful of cash.
In the backseat, he found a garbage bag filled with marijuana-infused chocolate and candy edibles.
The officer then noticed a cup holder in the back appeared out of place and questioned Lopez about it. Lopez responded, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, man.”
In the video, backup officers arrive as the officer removes parts of the car’s interior near the cup holder, revealing several kilos of drugs hidden inside.
Officers reacted in shock as they uncovered the stash.
“Oh my goodness gracious, this is insane,” one officer said.
“They keep coming,” he added. “This whole fender’s loaded.”
In total, police seized an estimated $385,000 worth of drugs during the traffic stop, including 11 kilos of cocaine, 11 pressed fentanyl pills, and a garbage bag full of marijuana-infused edibles.
Lopez faces multiple drug charges, including a felony. No plea was entered on his behalf, and the investigation remains ongoing as police believe more suspects are involved.
Lopez is expected to appear in court on Thursday.
