San Diego man busted in Blythe with 68 lbs. of narcotics

A 42-year-old man from San Diego is behind bars in Blythe after a K9 deputy with the Colorado River Station found over 53 lbs. of methamphetamine, 15 lbs. of cocaine and a loaded handgun in his car, according to the sheriff’s department.

Authorities said Danny Ruiz was pulled over for a vehicle code violation on I-10, east of Mesa Drive, on Wednesday around 8:30 p.m.

While the deputy was talking to Ruiz, he noticed a bag containing bundles of suspected narcotics inside the vehicle. The deputies K9 partner ‘Chico’ alerted to the vehicle after an exterior sniff search, according to the release.

The large amount of methamphetamine and cocaine were discovered after the deputy searched the vehicle. Ruiz was arrested and the Blythe Narcotic Enforcement Team took over the investigation.

Authorities said the wholesale street value of the narcotics seized is estimated at over $600,000.

Ruiz was eventually booked into the Riverside County Jail in Blythe for transportation of methamphetamine and cocaine, possession of methamphetamine and cocaine for sales and possession of controlled substances while in possession of a firearm.

Officials with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said he’s being held on $1M bail.