Two Illegal Immigrants Busted with Over a Half-Million in Heroin During Traffic Stop

BROOKSVILLE – The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting the arrest of two Mexican Nationals, after Troopers discovered a large quantity of Heroin inside their vehicle.

According to officials, Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a 2015 Grand Jeep Cherokee along I-75 in Brooksville.

Troopers say the vehicle had a fraudulent Arizona license plate and neither driver had a valid driver's license.

Troopers called for a K-9 unit to respond to the scene and discovered 5.5 lbs. of Heroin valued at $693,000.

Troopers arrested 33-year-old Maurilio Garcia-Torres and 19-year-old Ivana Riestra-Garcia and charged them with Trafficking in Heroin, Distribution of Heroin and Possession of a Vehicle for Drug Trafficking.

Riestra-Garcia is held on an $80,000 bond while Garcia-Torres' bond has not been listed.

It is unknown if a Federal Detainer will be placed on each suspect by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.