County Canine Unit Nabs $1.3 Million in Meth Hidden in Fire Extinguishers

Sheriff Keith Korenek reports that on Tuesday July, 26 at approximately 11:19 am, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Canine Unit, Sgt. Randy Thumann and K9 partner “Lobos” seized approximately 30 pounds of meth, with a street value of approximately $1.3 million.

Sgt. Thumann conducted the traffic stop on a 2007 flatbed pickup Chevrolet truck on IH-10 at the 666 east-bound mile marker.  

Thumann made contact with the driver who was displaying extreme nervousness. He was driving a vehicle that did not belong to him and displayed suspicious registration information.  After conducting a road side interview Thumann was able to disprove his travel itinerary. 

Thumann was given consent to search the vehicle by the driver. 

A search of the vehicle revealed four new fire extinguishers hidden throughout the truck.  Thumann immediately became suspicious of the extinguishers after observing they were identical to fire extinguishers he encountered on previous drug seizures in the past.  After cutting open the four fire extinguishers they revealed approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine. The driver, Alberto Jonas Gamez, 37, was arrested and transported to the Dan R. Beck Justice Center.