A Greene County deputy arrested a South Carolina man on May 13 after discovering 9 ounces of cocaine powder inside a grocery bag hidden in a Nissan’s center console.
Mario Chavez-Plata, of Myrtle Beach, has been charged with a window tint violation, driving without a license, and trafficking cocaine.
According to the report, Deputy Leo Sierra stopped Chavez-Plata on Interstate 20 eastbound near milepost 130 for a window tint violation. Chavez-Plata reportedly provided a Mexican passport as identification. Sierra determined the vehicle’s window tint allowed just 7% light transparency before asking Chavez-Plata to step out of the vehicle.
While waiting for GCIC to confirm his information, Sierra asked Chavez-Plata about the purpose of his trip. Chavez-Plata said he had traveled to Marietta the previous day to visit a friend in the hospital and was returning to Myrtle Beach.
Chavez-Plata told Sierra he had borrowed the vehicle from a friend but reportedly could not identify the owner without searching through his cellphone.
Sierra then asked for consent to search the vehicle, and Chavez-Plata agreed, according to the report.
During the search, Sierra noted the vehicle was extremely clean and contained no luggage or overnight bags despite the claimed nature of the trip.
While searching the center console, Sierra discovered a second cellphone and a grocery bag containing approximately 9 ounces of suspected cocaine powder, valued at as much as $18,000.
Chavez-Plata was arrested and transported to the Greene County jail.
All recovered evidence, including the suspected cocaine and two cellphones, was turned over to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office evidence room pending further processing.
The vehicle was removed from the scene by Yearwood's Towing Services.