A traffic stop on I-12 ended with police finding a bunch of cash and a man awaiting deportation.
"St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's deputies located and seized a large stash of suspected drug proceeds during a traffic stop," according to a STPSO news release. "The driver of the vehicle, Francisco S. Gonzalez (DOB 12/06/1990), identified himself via his Mexico passport and admitted to not having a valid driver's license."
Deputies say he consented to a search of the vehicle, and they found the money.
"$29,000 of suspected drug proceeds bundled in plastic bags and concealed inside one of the vehicle's door panels."
The driver said he didn't know where the cash came from.
"Gonzalez disavowed knowledge and ownership of the currency located inside the vehicle."
The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office seized the suspected drug proceeds and issued Gonzalez a traffic citation.
“I commend our deputies who conducted this traffic stop, noticed something suspicious and ultimately took an individual, who was not only in our country illegally, but was engaging in suspected criminal activity, off our streets,” Sheriff Randy Smith said.