Lancaster County sheriff's deputies seized 11 pounds of crystal methamphetamine bound for Iowa in a traffic stop on Interstate 80 outside Lincoln on Wednesday afternoon, according to federal court records.
Just before 3:30 p.m., a deputy stopped an eastbound van driven by Roberto Cadena, of California, near the 27th Street exit after he failed to signal a lane change, a U.S. Homeland Security investigator said.
The deputy became suspicious of Cadena, who said he was heading to Des Moines because he eventually wanted to move his family there, as many of his travel plans seemed inconsistent and illogical to the deputy.
The deputy asked to search the van, and Cadena agreed to the search. The drugs were inside five packages, hidden in the seat-back cushions, the investigator said.
Investigators believe Cadena had made a previous trip from California to Des Moines a month ago, delivering 6 pounds of meth for $1,000 per kilogram, the arrest affidavit said.
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Authorities this week tried to do a supervised delivery of the drugs to their suspected destination, but the operation was unsuccessful, and Cadena was brought back to Nebraska, according to court records.
Investigators suspect he might have informed the trafficking organization while he was stopped by the deputies, according to the affidavit.
Thursday, federal prosecutors charged Cadena with possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of meth.
He remained at the Lancaster County jail.