HEMPSTEAD, NY – A routine afternoon traffic stop in the village of Hempstead turned into a major narcotics bust when members of the New York State Police Troop L Community Stabilization Unit uncovered a significant cache of drugs and cash during a search of a vehicle on Monday.
Troopers from Troop L initiated the stop around 1:15 p.m. after observing a violation of New York State Vehicle and Traffic Laws. According to police, a lawful probable cause search led to the discovery of approximately 425 grams of marijuana, 11 grams of MDMA, 44 grams of Oxycodone, and 4 grams of ecstasy, along with packaging and preparation materials used in drug distribution.
Authorities also recovered roughly $4,500 in U.S. currency, believed to be proceeds connected to drug activity. The findings point to what police described as a small-scale distribution operation, with the seized substances representing multiple classes of controlled narcotics.
The driver, whose identity has not been released, was taken into custody without incident and faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (B Felony), one count in the fifth degree (D Felony), two counts of criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree (A misdemeanor), and one count of criminal possession of cannabis in the third degree (A misdemeanor).
The suspect was transported for processing by the Troop L Community Stabilization Unit and is expected to be arraigned in local court. The investigation remains ongoing as state police continue to assess the origin and intended distribution of the seized substances.
• Traffic stop led to seizure of multiple controlled substances and cash
• Driver faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges
• State Police continue to investigate potential distribution network