$3 million in meth discovered during traffic stop near Charlotte, NC sheriff says

A traffic stop initiated due to a partially hidden license plate resulted in deputies finding $3 million worth of meth, according to the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office.

It happened Tuesday, Dec. 16, near Kings Mountain, about a 35-mile drive west from uptown Charlotte.

“Deputies observed a 2024 Omada sedan traveling westbound on U.S. Highway 74 ... displaying a Mexico license plate from Sinaloa, Mexico, which was partially concealed by a tag cover,” the sheriff’s office said in a Dec. 17 news release.

“A traffic stop was initiated for the registration violation. ... During the stop, Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office K-9 conducted a free-air sniff of the vehicle and provided a positive alert. Based on probable cause, deputies conducted a search of the vehicle and discovered approximately 138 pounds of crystal methamphetamine.”

Kings Mountain is about a 2,150-mile drive northeast from Sinaloa, Mexico.

The vehicle’s 38-year-old driver, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine, officials said. His bond is set at $1 million jail, records show.

“The narcotics seized in this operation have an estimated street value of approximately $3 million, representing a significant disruption to illegal drug distribution networks,” the sheriff’s office said.

Crystal methamphetamine is a colorless, odorless form of methamphetamine that is highly addictive due to its “long-lasting euphoric effects,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

This story was originally published December 17, 2025 at 1:05 PM with the headline "$3 million in meth discovered during traffic stop near Charlotte, NC sheriff says."