GULFPORT, Miss. — A 33-year-old Guatemalan man, Diego Valdez-Marroquin, has been arrested and charged with felony aggravated drug trafficking after deputies discovered 22 pounds of cocaine hidden in his vehicle during a traffic stop.
The arrest took place on Sunday, July 6, just before 9:30 p.m., when a Harrison County Sheriff’s deputy pulled over Valdez-Marroquin near the 39-mile marker on Interstate 10 East in Gulfport for a traffic violation.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the deputy grew suspicious of drug trafficking during the stop and conducted a search, leading to the seizure of 22 pounds of cocaine concealed inside the vehicle.
Valdez-Marroquin was taken into custody and booked into the Harrison County Jail. He is being held on a $200,000 surety bond, set by Harrison County Justice Court Judge Brandon Ladner.
Additionally, the United States Border Patrol placed a federal immigration hold on Valdez-Marroquin.
The investigation was supported by the DEA and U.S. Border Patrol, both of which are assisting with the case.
