Alachua County, FL – A routine traffic stop on Interstate 75 Tuesday afternoon led to a major drug trafficking arrest involving nearly 50 pounds of marijuana, according to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
According to deputies, the stop occurred Tuesday, January 13, during the afternoon hours on I-75 southbound near mile marker 374. A detective assigned to the Gainesville–Alachua County Drug Task Force Domestic Highway Enforcement Team stopped a silver Hyundai for a traffic infraction.
The driver, identified as 34-year-old Michael Nguyen, allegedly became argumentative during the stop. Deputies said Nguyen was informed he would receive a warning and that his driver’s license needed to be verified, but he allegedly refused to exit the vehicle despite multiple lawful commands.
According to the sheriff’s office, Nguyen eventually exited the vehicle and was taken into custody without violence for resisting without violence.
A Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services detective arrived on scene with a narcotics detection K9, which conducted an open-air sniff of the vehicle. Deputies said the K9 alerted to the odor of illegal narcotics coming from the Hyundai.
A probable cause search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered a large scent-proof duffle bag and a locked suitcase. Inside, deputies allegedly found multiple vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana with a combined weight of approximately 46 pounds.
In addition to the resisting charge, Nguyen was charged with trafficking marijuana. Jail records were not immediately available, and no court date has been announced.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone seeking updates on arrests or wanting to receive victim notifications in Alachua County can sign up through the Sheriff’s Office notification system.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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