A routine traffic stop turned into a major discovery of suspected illicit cash in North Carolina over the weekend.
The incident occurred on Saturday, December 7, in Cleveland County, North Carolina, according to a news release from the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office.
Police say that they stopped a Hispanic male driving a semi truck southbound on I-85 for failure to maintain his lane and impeding the flow of traffic.
The truck was moved to a “safe location” for a closer inspection after a canine alerted to the truck.
During the search, officers say that they found approximately $3 million in cash hidden in barrels of raw pork shoulder.
The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office says that it “has reason to believe that the money was headed to the US/Mexican border and also believes the money was a result of drug sales throughout the region. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has been called in to help with the investigation.”