Two arrested after over 5 kilos of cocaine seized in Hancock County, agent says
A traffic stop in Hancock County resulted in the seizure of over five kilos of cocaine and two arrests, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Gulfport.
A Hancock County drug interdiction officer made the discovery after pulling over a Chevrolet sedan driven by Peter Franklin Sauls on May 2. A passenger in the car was identified as Lyndsey Morgan Rodgers.
According to the complaint, the agent asked to search the vehicle after he noticed the smell of marijuana.
During the search, authorities found over 5.4 kilos of cocaine in vacuum-sealed bags hidden behind the liner in the back corner panel of the vehicle. In addition, agents seized a small amount of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, the records say.
Authorities arrested Sauls and Rodgers on a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Sauls told authorities he had been paid to deliver an unknown amount of cash to a Texas home and pick up what he thought was two kilos of cocaine. Sauls said he was supposed to deliver the cocaine somewhere n Florida.
Though the passenger said she had no knowledge of the drugs, Sauls said she knew what they were doing and where they were going with the drugs.
Sauls said he was paid $1,500 to pick up and deliver the drugs, the complaint said, and that he planned to share the earnings with the passenger.
Both Sauls and Rodgers are jailed without bond.
