Kentucky State Police say that after the September 15 discovery of over $23,000 in a vehicle driven by 28-year-old Valentin Serrano-Balcazar of Kansas City, Kansas, a more detailed search was conducted at State Police Post 1. A non-factory access door leading to a false compartment was discovered in the vehicle. The compartment was lined with aluminum tape and contained an additional $172,345. This brought the total amount seized in the arrest to $195,787.
In the September 15 arrest, Kentucky State Police stopped a car traveling on Interstate 24 at around 9:30 am for a traffic violation, and the trooper saw several indicators of criminal activity.
After getting consent to search the vehicle, police found 1/2 gram of crystal methamphetamine, a set of digital scales, and $23,442 in cash, concealed in a way consistent with trafficking.
Serrano-Balcazar was arrested and charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the Caldwell County Jail.