It was June 5th, 2023 when Trooper Anna Escamilla was on patrol and spotted a vehicle making unsafe lane changes. She pulled it over expecting a routine traffic stop. But what happened next would turn out to be one of her biggest discoveries. How's it going? Hey, my name's Trip. I'm with Arkansas State Police. Reason I make contact with you is improper lane change. Yeah, I didn't know. You're good. You got driver's license. Is this your vehicle? I'm going to have you hop out and come back here to my car. Okay. Trooper Escamilla smelled the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and ordered the driver to step into her patrol car while she searched it. The driver tried to play dumb, acting confused and asking why he was in her car. All right. Um, when's the last time you smoked marijuana in that car? He smoked in Arizona when it was legal, but other than that, I don't smoke. I got you. Okay. I don't I got you. Yeah, I I smell an odor of it. So, uh that's what I'm asking. Is there Is there any marijuana in there? No. Nothing. Anything illegal in there? Nothing at all. Marijuana, cocaine? No. Heroin? Methamphetamine? Firearms? He's illegal to carry hands and firearms. Okay. In the B department. Okay, I got you. But nothing nothing illegal. Okay. All right. Trooper Escamilla also ordered the passenger to get into her patrol car. The second he sat down, they looked at each other, both knowing they were screwed. With both suspects secured, trooper Escamilla began searching the vehicle. She said improper lane change. 28. Go ahead. [Music] record 24. This mine is yours. What is it? Fennel pills. [Applause] Trooper Anna Escamilla seized around 50,000 fentinel pills and a firearm. The street value of the drugs was estimated at over $2 million. The way she handled this stop from start to finish was nothing short of amazing. The driver was charged with unlawful use of a communication device, trafficking a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and improper lane change. On November 12th, 2023, Trooper Escamilla was patrolling Interstate 40 near mile marker 179 when she saw a Chrysler Pacifica with Florida plates drifting out of its lane and hitting the fog line. She initiated a traffic stop near mile marker 178 and made contact with the driver identified as James Revel. How are you? I'm good. said, "Hey, my name's Sher Briskkey. I'm with Arkansas State Police. Reason I make contact with you is for care to maintain lane. Okay. You You hit this white bottle line. So, just want to make sure you're good. Hadn't been drinking or anything like that. You just What do you do? Hit a button and a your car's come out. Is this your vehicle?" No, it's your rental. Okay. Do you have your rental agreement? Let me have you out. Come over here to my car. Okay. Do you have any weapons? Nope. No weapons. Go for it. All right. Go ahead and sit in my front seat. Trooper Escamilla placed him in the front passenger seat of her patrol car while she continued checking his information. Just by the look on his face, you could tell something wasn't right. When she asked about the rental vehicle, her suspicion started to grow, but she kept her composure and played it cool. Your your rental agreement says you got to have it back by tomorrow. Yeah. So, I didn't have a whole lot of money. Um, so I done that. I get paid in a couple days and then I'll pay the remainder of the rental agreement there. So is are you going to be charged like late fees and stuff? I might be. Okay. So So you didn't have enough money. So you got it one day, right? And you just plan on calling and saying, "Hey, listen. I know I I know I said I'm only having it for a day, but you know, it kind of screwed up." Yeah. I extend it out a little bit. So Okay. Yeah. All right. Tell me again what what town are you going to? Uh, Bradington. You You got your suitcase in there? Uh, yeah. So, you said you plan on staying there for a week? Yeah, a couple of days. Okay. After everything the driver said, which didn't make any sense, Trooper Escamilla moved him to the back seat and hit him with one question that left him speechless. It was a moment that once again showed just how experienced she is and how well she handles situations like this. How much marijuana do you have in the back seat? I marijuana. Uhhuh. Your car smells of it. Not sure where I wanted yet. Done. Be honest. I don't have [Music] [Music] [Music] Call auto, please. [Music] I didn't even do anything. I didn't even uh How much R1 are you traveling with? I honestly don't know. Don't know. How much are you are you getting paid to deliver this? I don't know how much. No, no. Are you getting paid to deliver? Yes. Okay. Where are you actually going to? Uh, just fell on some hard times and found an easy way to make a little money. And Well, if you fel if you found an easy way to make a little bit of money. Surely they told you how much you were going to make. I don't know. They just told me that they would pay me when I get when I make the delivery and that's it. I don't know. So, how much you get paid the last time you did it? I've never done it. So, it's your first time? This is my first time. James claimed he met people in a parking lot who gave him the drugs and said he did it because of financial struggles. He also said the vehicle was rented by a family member who had no idea what he was doing. A total of 79 packages of marijuana were recovered. James was charged with possession with intent to deliver possession of drug paraphernalia and use of another person's property to facilitate a crime. Before we continue, make sure to hit that subscribe button because 95% of you watching still aren't subscribed. Let's change that. On August 26th, 2023, Trooper Escamilla was patrolling Interstate 40 near mile marker 170 when she spotted a black Cadillac SUV with Texas plates following too closely behind another vehicle. She initiated a traffic stop near mile marker 171 and made contact with the driver. How's it going? My name is troop rescue me. I'm with Arkansas State Police. Reason I made contact with you is you're falling too close to that vehicle. Your window t's dark as well. Driver's license. Let me have you hop out come over here to my car. Okay. Do you have any weapons? Where you from? Uh I'm from Maryland, but I live in Texas. You live in Texas? Yes. Okay. real. Oh, yeah. What part of Texas? Uh, Houston. Houston area. Okay. Uh, how much marijuana do you have in the trunk? Or how much marijuana do you have on you, period? You don't have no marijuana on you? No marijuana. Sure. Yes, sir. Is there any shake or anything? When's the last time you smoked in there? I haven't smoked. It smells like marijuana. I haven't smoked in there, man. I swear. And whose vehicle is it? Uh, my brother's vehicle. It's your brother's? Yes. Okay. Where are you headed to right now? Uh, Memphis. What part? This is when trooper Escamilla knew something was off. The driver identified as Darien didn't explain why he was heading to Memphis. When asked if he had any marijuana in the vehicle, he said no, claiming he didn't smoke. But Trooper Escamilla could clearly smell marijuana, giving her probable cause to search the vehicle. She placed Darien in the back of her patrol car and began the search. All right, she put me in the car. Yeah. [Music] Nah, she said the car smell like we and she's calling for backup. Adam 40 Rock 43 30 West University the black Chrysler 300 now 28. [Music] She's opening the trunk now. Yeah, she's trying to unlock it. She's struggling opening She's struggling opening the trunk. She just hopped in the back. Yeah, she Yeah, she just seen all the boxes. You know what's up. How much you got? While searching the rear of the vehicle, trooper Escamilla found several boxes appearing to come from Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals. Darien was immediately handcuffed and placed under arrest. The vehicle was impounded and taken to the Lenokei County Sheriff's Office. A full search revealed 35 boxes, each containing 12 bottles, a total of 420 bottles of promethazine. His phone and the promethazine were seized by the Central Arkansas Drug Task Force. Since the promazine did not contain codine, Darien was charged with possession of prohibited drugs and use of another person's property to facilitate a crime. On December 4th, 2023, Arkansas State Police trooper Anna Escamilla made a routine traffic stop on Interstate 40 near the 173 mile marker in Lenoke County. Right away, she noticed a strong smell of marijuana, but kept her cool like nothing was wrong. Inside the car were two occupants from Brazil and their dog claiming they were headed to Miami. Miami. Okay. Have you smoked marijuana today earlier when you left California? You sure? Cuz he smells like it and the car smells like it, too. What's in the suitcases? Okay. All right. Okay. Come take a seat in the car. You're going to sit on the other side. [Music] Oh my god. What's happening? What? We never gave you permission to search your car. What? What's going on, ma'am? The moment trooper Escamilla opened the suitcases, she saw a large amount of illegal substances. She immediately called for backup and had another trooper drive the car to the Lenote County Detention Center. Once there, she took the female passenger aside since she was the one who spoke English to have a serious conversation and give her a chance to tell the truth before things got even worse. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be against you in court law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him present with you while you're being questioned. What? Where are you from? Russia. Brazil. Brazil. Do you understand these rights that I've read to you? Uh, you said a little bit fast, but I kind of Will you Can you talk to me? Yes. Okay. What is in the back of the car? Is it cocaine? No. What is it? I am not sure. you. It's something, you know, something. Here's the thing. You're about to get in some serious trouble because that is a lot. It is a lot. And I can help you. I promise you with that much. I can help you. I'm not even lying. Help me. How? I can help you by maybe not going to jail today and helping yourself out with with what this is. Okay. What would you're facing a long time right now. I I don't want to go to jail again. Okay. What? Let's start off telling me. Okay. Tell me. What is that? Is it cocaine? No, it's not cocaine. What is it? Is it fentanyl? No, I think it's maybe weed. It's not weed. It's not cocaine. And it's not fant. It's It's Whose is it? Huh? Is it your deal or his deal? I don't know. What is it? I don't know. It's something. It is not It is not weed. I know what weeded looks like. We do not use drugs. You I know you don't. You're delivering that somewhere. You're You said you're going to Miami. So, is it cocaine? No, it's not cocaine. What is it? I I don't know, ma'am. I don't know. Okay. Well, then you're not going to help yourself out. Your dog's going to the pound. No, please. Trooper Escamilla discovered six suitcases packed with a total of 869 lbs of high-grade cannabis, specifically hashish. The estimated street value was a staggering $3.6 million. The driver, Renee Rodriguez, 33, from Brazil, was arrested and taken to the Leninoi County Detention Center, charged with drug trafficking, possession of drug paraphernalia, and more. Rodriguez later pleaded guilty to possession with purpose to deliver a controlled substance, a class B felony. He faced up to 20 years in prison, but was sentenced to 96 months of probation and a $1,000 fine. If you're doing something illegal like a Buba car Dio, you better at least be a good driver because on November 17th, 2023, Dio was pulled over after failing to maintain his lane, hitting the right fog line multiple times. Trooper Escamilla then approached the vehicle and made contact with [Music] him. Unfortunately, we don't have audio from Trooper Escamilla's stop, but according to her report, Dio was visibly shaking and stuttering as she approached. When asked for his license, he questioned the reason for the stop, but eventually handed over both his ID and the rental agreement. Trooper Escamilla noted a strong smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. She asked Dio to step out, and he complied. When asked about weapons, he said he had none and agreed to be searched. Nothing was found, and he was placed in the back of the patrol car. That's when Trooper Esila asked how much marijuana was in the vehicle. How much marijuana do you have? Sorry, what? How much marijuana do you have? Why do you say that? I can smell it. You smell it on me? I can smell it in the car already? Yes. I have food in there. You don't have no marijuana? Yes, I do. How much? Um, I'm not sure exactly how many pounds. I'm not I honestly don't know. I'm not sure. Damn. Here. Here. Give me your phone. Okay. Stay right there. Yep. 96. [Music] [Music] Can you call? The driver knew he was screwed. And after trooper Escamilla read him his Miranda rights, he had just one question. I just have one question. Yeah, go ahead. How did you know? How did I know what that I Cuz I I didn't cross the line. He didn't cross the line. That's then that's why you pulled me over. And so I pulled you over and then I walk up to the car and the car smells like Were you the one sitting over there with the lights on? Yeah. I you weren't looking for me. No. I promise I didn't cross the line. I You didn't. Hey, listen to me. I've been at work since 3:00. Okay. Uh I went to the gun range and just just got over here. Promise to God I'm not looking for you. Okay. I just have a question. Yeah. Go ahead. No, no, no. So again, with these rights of mine, do you want to talk to me? I'm just asking one of my So at any time that I that you like, you know what, I don't want to talk to you, you can say. You don't want to talk. Okay. So you got possession of marijuana. Okay. Upon further investigation, trooper Escamilla found a black backpack containing a large amount of cash, a passport belonging to Dio, four fake driver's licenses from three states, and five matching credit cards. Dio claimed he used them to get into clubs, but later admitted he bought each set for $250. Prosecutors advised charging him with theft by receiving for each credit card. The vehicle was towed and 100 packages of marijuana were recovered from four large duffel bags. Dio was transported to the detention center and officially charged. All evidence, including the $2,500 in cash, was turned over to investigators. On August 28th, 2023, Trooper Escamilla was on patrol when she spotted a vehicle following too closely. For some reason, bad driving seems to be the common mistake that gives these suspects away. How's it going? I'm sorry. What did I do? Hey, my name's Cooper Eskim with Arkansas State Police. Reason I made contact with you is you're following that track trailer way too close. Oh, I'm sorry. I I knew I was and I knew I had a feeling that's why you pulled me over. Yeah, you're good. You're good. I I uh I don't I don't I knew better. I don't Do you have a driver's license? Other than the fact that there was just a lot of trucks going and one cut in front of me and I was Do you have your actual uh copy of the uh rental agreement? Uh yeah, it's on my phone. Can I use my phone? Trooper Escamilla placed the driver in her patrol car to gather more information. And at first everything seemed fine. But the moment she asked if he had any marijuana because she could smell it, the driver started stuttering and looked genuinely surprised by the question. I gota uh let me ask you a question. Uh are you a marijuana user or anything? Um I wasn't in Mexico. Okay, for sure. I got you. You you you kind of smell of it a little bit. Okay, that um that makes sense. I uh um definitely when I'm in New Mexico or when I'm with my buddies from New Mexico, I uh I haven't been in New Mexico, so you kind of you kind of got me here. I I I I smoked a joint uh with my buddy. Yeah. In in Dallas. And uh then I had a joint last night. Um so you got me on that. I don't have anything with Do you have anything in those bags? I have uh wax in my backpack. Okay. You have nothing in those bags? No, I don't have anything in those back real quick. After the driver clearly couldn't decide how to answer the question, that hesitation was all trooper Escamilla needed. It gave her enough reason to search the car and find out what was really going on. [Music] How much do you have in those bags? You know how many? 32 lb. Okay, you're good. Where's the key to that bag? Uh, it's a code. It's uh 2 284. 284. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Can I help you? All right, you're good to go. Go ahead. Hi. Do you want to be arrested for obstruction? Hi. While searching the vehicle, trooper Escamilla found a small bag containing a large amount of US currency. The vehicle was towed to the Linoi County Sheriff's Office and the suspect identified as Paul was transported there as well. DEA Task Force Officer David Dylan responded to take possession of the marijuana. After being read his Miranda rights, Paul admitted he flew from North Carolina to Oklahoma City and paid $28,000 for 32 lb of marijuana, hoping to make a 30% profit. He also admitted to doing it once before with£10. Trooper Escamilla seized $8,228 in cash. For some reason, all drug traffickers seem to love tailgating. And on November 13th, 2023, this driver caught Trooper Escamilla's attention for following a tractor trailer way too closely. She activated her lights and sirens and pulled him over. What started as a simple traffic stop was about to turn into something much bigger. Hello. How are you? Hey, my name is Jes. I'm with Arkansas State Police. Reason I make contact with you is for going too close. Okay. For every 10 miles an hour, you need to be at least a car distance away. So, speed limit 75. You need to be a good eight car distances away. Okay. Do you have a driver's or is this your vehicle? Do you have your rental agreement? Do you have any weapons? No. a check. I conceal weapons, but I don't carry. You don't carry? No, I don't care. I just think you should carry. Well, I don't know what the law is. A good thing. What's the law? That's law. You don't go ahead and say weapons. Trooper Escamilla noticed the rental car was picked up in San Diego and due in Virginia just 2 days later. The driver, Hing, was visibly nervous, shaking and breathing heavily. He claimed he went to a memorial and was driving back due to no available flights. When asked about anything illegal, he repeatedly said no. But once the trunk was opened, the strong smell of marijuana told a different story. Make sure no dead bodies in the back. Of course you can. Yeah. Yeah. Let me add them there. [Music] One. So, you don't have nothing illegal in there, right? Nope. I mean, I don't know. Not my knowledge. Yeah. What? Not to my knowledge. No. [Music] Come on. What? What happened? No. What happened? Pop it. [Music] Having illegal substances in your car and then acting like nothing happened is absolutely crazy. While placing Hunter under arrest, Trooper Price said Hunter casually admitted they had 8 lb of marijuana. At the sheriff's office, troopers counted eight bags of marijuana and $7,346 in cash. Both Hunter and Hing were informed their money would be seized and they refused to sign the forfeite form.