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Police: 'Drug Mule' Hid Heroin, $380K Inside Secret Compartment

DERRY TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- State troopers pulled over an SUV on Route 22 in Derry Township after noticing the driver was tailgating. Their suspicions quickly heightened.

"I really can't go into depth about how he knew or what indicators tipped him off to believe that this vehicle was transporting a significant amount of drugs. In this case heroin," said Trooper Stephen Limani.

With the driver's permission, they searched the SUV.

"There's a hidden compartment underneath the rear passenger seat of this vehicle," Limani said.

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Inside, 1,500 stamp bags of heroin and $380,000. State police will try to seize the cash and the SUV and use the assets to help fund more drug busts. The trooper who made this find had extensive training.

"Obviously he had to take apart a significant amount of this vehicle to get to the under wiring to find it. And subsequently activate it," Limani said.

They arrested 47-year old Salvador Lucena-Rosa from Mount Bethel.

He is being held under $100,000 bond.

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