MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – Two people were arrested after a drug bust on a charter bus.
Around 9 p.m. Thursday, a Montgomery County Precinct 4 deputy constable noticed the El Expresso bus drifting all over the Eastex Freeway.
He pulled it over near FM 2920 and then asked for permission to search it.
All 15 passengers on the Chicago-bound bus were removed and their identities checked.
Narcotics dogs were then brought in and they honed in on a black bag. Inside were several bundles of marijuana totaling more than 22 pounds, officials said.
Gilberto Chapa and Eva Quintanilla were questioned and arrested. They were charged with possession of marijuana over 5 pounds but less than 50, a third-degree felony. Both Chapa and Quintanilla were awaiting trial on similar charges in Rio Grande, Texas. Both were booked into the Montgomery County jail.
Another El Expresso bus was pulled over in Splendora on Sunday night because of a broken taillight.
The bus driver and a passenger were arrested after deputies found 7,200 grams of cocaine, 3,300 grams of heroine, and 89 grams of potent black tar heroine, and cash. Detectives said those drugs had a street value of $1 million.
Local 2 Investigates discovered that it is not uncommon for drug cartels to transport drugs using cross border buses.
Investigators are now waiting to see who may show up to meet the bus that was stopped in Spring. Someone may be there to retrieve the drugs when the bus gets to Chicago, officials said.