North Carolina police seize $500,000 in cash from tractor trailer stopped for traffic violation

Gaston County Police (GCP) seized half a million dollars in cash from a tractor trailer that was searched following a traffic stop on I-85.

On February 3, 2026, a GCP canine unit stopped a semi truck on I-85 in Gaston County, North Carolina, after observing the driver commit a traffic violation.

As part of the stop, police performed a “K-9 sniff of the trailer.” The dog alerted to the presence of drugs, GCP said.

An “extensive search” was conducted on the trailer.

Police say they located U.S. currency packaged in several smaller individual bundles “consistent with methods commonly used to conceal large sums of currency associated with drug trafficking and money laundering.”

The $500,000 in cash was seized by police because it was believed to be associated with illegal drug activity.

Local outlet The Gaston Gazette reports that police do not believe that the truck driver had knowledge of the cash concealed in the trailer. He is cooperating with police and has not been charged.

“Through strategic coordination and proactive investigations, the Gaston County Police Department remains committed to reducing the prevalence of dangerous drugs and combating criminal activity in our community,” GCP said. “These efforts are part of our mission to foster a safer, more secure environment for all residents of Gaston County.”

The investigation is ongoing.