Mesquite police say their K-9 team turned a routine early-Thursday traffic stop into a major drug bust when officers pulled over a northbound vehicle on the interstate and walked away with roughly 100 pounds of methamphetamine. The haul came after a roadside interview and an alert from the department’s Belgian Malinois, Rogue, and the department later celebrated the seizure on social media as another win in its push to keep bulk narcotics loads out of the valley.
Rogue, a Belgian Malinois who joined the Mesquite force in 2018, is certified to detect meth and other narcotics and has already been credited with several major busts, according to the Mesquite Police Department. The agency’s K-9 page highlights Rogue’s training and close bond with his handler, a partnership officers say makes the duo a particularly sharp tool during traffic stops and interdiction work.
How the stop unfolded
As reported by KTNV, officers pulled over a vehicle heading north on the interstate and conducted a roadside interview that raised enough suspicion to bring in Rogue for a sniff. When the K-9 alerted, officers searched the vehicle and found the suspected methamphetamine, which was seized for further investigation. According to KTNV, the department posted photos of the tightly packaged drugs along with a healthy dose of praise for Rogue’s work.
Big seizures along I-15
The bust is the latest in a series of heavy-duty interdictions along the I-15 corridor. HSI and Las Vegas Metro reported a more than 100-pound meth seizure in March, according to FOX5 Las Vegas, and Mesquite police recovered about 68 pounds during a traffic stop last August, according to local reporting. Law-enforcement officials have long pointed to I-15 as a major cross-country route that traffickers lean on to move bulk shipments through Nevada.
In its social post, which local media later picked up, the department wrote, “He gets to play his favorite game and lately, he’s definitely winning,” a nod to Rogue’s role in the seizure, according to KTNV. The post featured photos of the packaged narcotics and a shout-out to the K-9 team for turning everyday patrol into a substantial drug intercept.
Mesquite police have not yet released details about any arrests, suspects’ destinations, or the estimated street value of the haul, saying the investigation is still underway. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mesquite Police non-emergency line listed on the Mesquite Police Department website.
