K-9 Unit Finds Meth Oil in a Gas Tank

Fayette County Sheriff’s K-9 narcotics team confiscated $6 million-worth of methamphetamine from a fuel tank with a false compartment on Monday, Feb. 26.

According to a report from Sheriff Keith Korenek, Sgt. Randy Thumann and his K-9 partner Lobos stopped a 2007 Chevy Tahoe for traffic violations on Interstate 10 about three miles west of Flatonia. The stop happened around 2:27 p.m.

“During the course of his investigation, Sgt. Thumann observes several criminal indicators in the stories that were provided by the driver and passenger of the vehicle,” Korenek’s report stated.

The report said the driver consented to a search of the vehicle. Thumann deployed Lobos, who alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. Thumann eventually removed the Tahoe’s gas tank. The Sheriff’s report said the gas tank had a false compartment built inside, which contained about 60 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine oil. Korenek estimated the street value of the narcotics at $6 million.

Thumann arrested 35-year-old Miguel Angel Lozano Alvarez and 24-year-old Alma Rosario Nieto Villarreal, both of Mexico. Alvarez and Villarreal were charged with possession of a controlled substance and booked into the Dan R. Beck Justice Center. Bond was set at $50,000 for Alvarez and $10,000 for Villarreal.