Crime & Safety
Wake County, NC Drug Bust: $1.4M in Cocaine, Gun Seized on I-40
Wake County, NC – A traffic stop along Interstate 40 near the Raleigh Durham area led to the seizure of approximately $1.4 million worth of suspected cocaine and a concealed handgun, with two men now
By Sophie Caldwell · 2026-10-13T18:22:30.275Z
Wake County, NC – A traffic stop along Interstate 40 near the Raleigh Durham area led to the seizure of approximately $1.4 million worth of suspected cocaine and a concealed handgun, with two men now facing felony drug trafficking charges.
According to the Wake County Sheriff's Office, deputies conducted a vehicle stop Wednesday, Oct. 7, on I 40 near Aviation Parkway, a major roadway connecting communities near Raleigh Durham International Airport.
During the stop, deputies used a sheriff's office K 9 to assist in searching the vehicle. Authorities reported recovering approximately 3 kilograms of cocaine, equivalent to about 6.6 pounds, along with a concealed handgun.
The sheriff's office estimated the seized narcotics had a value of approximately $1.4 million.
Two Men Arrested on Felony Trafficking Charges
Deputies identified the driver as Jacob Ramos, 23, who was arrested and charged with two counts of trafficking in cocaine, one count of carrying a concealed gun, one count of driving without an operator's license and a window tint violation.
A second man, Juan Valderrama Beltran, 29, was also arrested and charged with two counts of trafficking in cocaine.
Both men were processed into the Wake County Detention Center. The sheriff's office reported that they were being held on $1 million bond.
Multiple Law Enforcement Agencies Assisted
The investigation involved cooperation among several agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Cary Police Department and Guilford County Sheriff's Office.
Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe credited the collaboration with helping deputies remove drugs and a weapon from the community.
The sheriff's office has not released additional details about the suspected drugs' origin or intended destination.
The arrests and charges are allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.