Traffic Stop Nets Large Quantities of Drugs

On Tuesday, November 30^th, 2021, a joint operation between the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics agents and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol ended successfully late Thursday afternoon. Agents of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and interdiction Troopers from the NC State Highway patrol were observing south bound traffic on NC highway 421, near the 421 bypass. Approximately 6:00 pm Troopers observed a silver in color GMC Sierra pickup truck traveling at a speed greater than the posted speed limit. Troopers initiated a stop on the GMC for the speeding violation. Alexis J. Escandon-Prado and another female passenger were the only occupants of the vehicle. During the enforcement action Troopers recognized signs of possible criminal activity. Troopers issued the driver a warning for the speeding violation and a citation for driving without a license. After completing the traffic stop Troopers asked the driver for consent to search the vehicle, and Escandon-Prado refused consent to search the vehicle. A North Carolina State Highway Patrol Canine was deployed to sniff the exterior of the vehicle for narcotic odor. A positive canine alert on vehicle, led to the discovery of 17 pounds of Crystal Methamphetamine, in the back seat passenger area of the truck. In the front passenger area of the vehicle Troopers and Deputies located bulk currency which was seized as a part of the investigation.

 Alexis J. Escandon-Prado age 21, of 5847 Marcelle Lane, Norcross, Georgia, was arrested and charged with three counts of trafficking crystal methamphetamine, one count of felony possession of cocaine, one count of felony maintaining a vehicle for the storage and sells of a controlled substance, and one count of drug paraphernalia. 

A further investigation into Escandon-Prado, was conducted by Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics agents. Several days after the initial arrest, Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics agents were able to obtain information regarding additional narcotics located in the state of Georgia. The Lee County Sheriff’s office Narcotics agents contacted authorities in Georgia which led to the recovery of 2 pounds of Fentanyl.

Alexis Escandon-Prado has not been charged by Georgia authorities at this time.