FROM STAFF REPORTS

Two men face drug-trafficking charges after being stopped by Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputies for a moving violation on Interstate 77.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrests of Nery Rolando Amaya-Maldonado, 30, of Franklinville, N.J., and Edwin Jafeth Vargas-Flores, 27, of Clementon, N.J., in a news release.

Deputies assigned to the ICSO Interstate Criminal Enforcement Team conducted a traffic stop on a GMC with New Jersey plates for a violation on Interstate 77 North near mile marker 63 on Monday, November 4.

The driver, identified as Amaya-Maldonado, and passenger, identified as Vargas-Flores, told deputies that they were traveling back to New Jersey from South Carolina, Campbell said.

During the stop, deputies observed indicators of criminal activity and searched the vehicle, according to the news release.

During the search, deputies found approximately three ounces of cocaine wrapped in tape and concealed within the vehicle, Campbell said.

Amaya-Maldonado and Vargas-Flores were arrested and taken to the Iredell County Detention Center, where they were charged with felony trafficking cocaine by possession, felony trafficking cocaine by transport, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, felony maintaining a vehicle for the sale of a controlled substance, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both suspects appeared before Magistrate Nethken and received a secured $350,000 secured bond.