Sheriff Darren E. Campbell stated: On Monday February 6, 2017 members of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Interstate Criminal Enforcement (ICE) Team stopped a Buick with Maryland tags on Interstate 77 South for traffic violations.  During the stop the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Long Bina Nguyen was extremely nervous acting.  He said he was traveling from California. A Patrol K-9 was utilized to conduct a walk around of the vehicle.

The dog indicated a positive alert for the presence of a narcotic. A hand search of the vehicle was conducted and in the car deputies located three large duffle bags and two large cardboard boxes. In these containers they saw several vacuumed sealed packages of marijuana.

Nguyen was taken into custody and after running his information through various data systems, it was determined he also had an outstanding Fugitive Warrant from California for burglary.

Nguyen was taken to the Iredell County Narcotics Investigations Office and the car was thoroughly searched. In all 70 vacuumed sealed packages of marijuana were located weighing 90 pounds and having an estimated street value of 450,000.00.

Nguyen was charged with Trafficking in Marijuana by Possession, trafficking in Marijuana by Transport, Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana and a Fugitive Warrant for Burglary from California. He was placed under 800,000.00 dollars secured bond.