Authorities Tout Record Methamphetamine Seizure

Local police officials claim that the 150-plus pounds of meth they seized at a traffic stop is the largest single seizure of that drug in Virginia law enforcement history.

A public information officer for the department said in early November, officers with VBPD and officials with the Homeland Security Investigations “approached” a 54-year-old man as part of an ongoing investigation. Officers deployed a drug canine during the traffic stop at the 4400 block of Bonney Road. Officers said they found “two large bags” in the trunk, and police said the bags contained about 156 pounds of methamphetamine.

Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate said in a statement that the bust was a “major” step in disrupting drug trafficking in Hampton Roads. Harden has been charged with several drug and firearms crimes in relation to the bust, including possession with intent to distribute.

“The significant quantity of methamphetamine seized during this operation will prevent the distribution of thousands of doses of the dangerous drug, potentially saving lives and protecting the community,” Neudigate said.

Traffic Stop

Authorities didn’t specify why officers “approached” the vehicle. Chances are, the reason was a traffic stop or a search warrant.

Courts usually give police authorities considerable leeway at traffic stops. A recent federal case from Iowa is a good example.

Local cops believed that a resident was a drug trafficker. Police pulled him over for speeding, but the traffic stop was clearly a setup. The man was traveling 1mph over the limit, and a drug-sniffing dog was on the scene in less than five minutes.

Nevertheless, a judge ruled that the actions of those police officers were legal. Their intent, which was to search the man’s car without probable cause or a search warrant, was irrelevant.

This dark cloud has a silver lining for a Leesburg criminal defense lawyer. The emphasis on officers’ action means they must follow procedures by the book. Officers must have reasonable suspicion to detain motorists. Reasonable suspicion is basically an evidence-based hunch of criminal activity. Furthermore, before they arrest people in these situations, officers must have probable cause. That’s a much higher standard of evidence.

Search Warrant

Probable cause and warrant particularity may be the two most important features of a valid search warrant. If the search warrant is invalid, a Leesburg criminal defense lawyer can exclude any evidence obtained.

This standard of proof is mentioned in the Fourth Amendment itself. There’s no precise definition of probable cause in Virginia. Basically, it’s a reasonable belief that evidence of a crime will be found in a particular location. This belief must be based on facts, observations, or circumstances, rather than mere speculation or hunches.

Officers must detail the probable cause evidence in a written affidavit. A verbal request for a warrant, even if that verbal statement details the probable cause, doesn’t cut it. Neither does an unsworn probable cause statement.

The warrant must specify the exact location to be searched, such as a specific area within a building, and the item police are looking for, such as drugs. So, if officers have a warrant to search the basement for drugs, they cannot go upstairs and look for anything else. This requirement is central to the privacy rights the Fourth Amendment protects. It prevents general searches and ensures that only areas relevant to the investigation are searched.

Work With a Diligent Loudoun County Lawyer

There’s a big difference between an arrest and a conviction in criminal law. For a confidential consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney in Leesburg, contact Simms Showers, LLP, Attorneys at Law. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we start working for you.

Source:

pilotonline.com/2025/01/03/virginia-beach-police-officers-make-largest-meth-seizure-in-department-history/