For The Press and Standard
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Yemassee, SC) – On February 15, 2023, the Yemassee Police Department was conducting routine traffic enforcement on Interstate 95 when officers identified a Black Volvo XC90 that was failing to maintain its lane by crossing the center line and fog line. Officers conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Antoni Zayas, 27, of Grants Pass, OR. During the interaction, Zayas claimed the vehicle was not registered to him and appeared overly nervous for what should be a routine interaction. Additional units responded to the scene including a K-9 Officer from the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. The K9 handler and K9 performed a free air sniff of the exterior of the vehicle and the K9 did alert on the passenger side of the vehicle.
Officers informed Zayas that the K9 alerted for the odor of narcotics in the vehicle and that a probable cause search would be performed. Officers located an after-market compartment under the driver and passenger seats which contained twenty-seven (27) pounds of Crystal Methamphetamine. The narcotics were determined to have a street value of $250,000.00. Zayas was then placed under arrest and transported to the Hampton County Detention Center where Zayas awaits a bond hearing.
Chief Alexander wishes to thank the officers of the Yemassee Police Department, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Department of Homeland Security for their assistance with this incident.
