A significant narcotics seizure was made by a Modesto Police K-9 officer during a recent traffic stop. The officer, with the help of his K-9 partner, stopped a vehicle last week for traffic violations. The K-9, trained in narcotics detection, alerted the officer to the presence of drugs, leading to a search that uncovered 2 pounds of heroin and 14 pounds of fentanyl pills, according to the Modesto Police Department Facebook page.

The driver, Jose Tafolla-Gutierrez, 49, was arrested and is facing charges related to narcotics trafficking and distribution. He was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center. The drugs found in his possession were believed to be intended for distribution in the local community.

Sgt. John Carrico, supervisor of the K-9 Unit, commended the officers' hard work, stating, "Our K-9 handlers and their partners dedicate hours to monthly training to ensure they perform at the highest level our community expects. This is just one example of how a police K-9 plays a crucial role in keeping these deadly substances - and those who seek to distribute them - off our streets and out of our community," in the Modesto Police Department post.