Suspected meth traffickers in court

Three California men arrested in Cascade County over the weekend for their alleged roles in trafficking methamphetamine made their initial court appearances Monday.

Cesar Christian Sanchez-Lopez, Robert Jaramillo and Victor Castro each face one count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs with intent to distribute, a felony.

According to court documents, the men were arrested during a traffic stop initiated by the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office after tips from a confidential informant received by the Toole County Sheriff’s Office were shared with the Russell County Drug Task Force. The report says drug detectives observed the suspect vehicle, a white Kia Optima with California plates, en route to Great Falls via Interstate 15 from California.

Law enforcement received an additional tip during the stop that an occupant of the vehicle placed a call to tell someone they were getting pulled over and the vehicle contained three pounds of meth, according to court documents.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and found 1.86 pounds of meth hidden in a compartment near the electronic wiring area that was accessible from the glove compartment. Reports indicate the drugs were located with the assistance of a GFPD K-9, despite being heat-sealed in plastic and packed with yellow mustard, a method used to mask the scent of narcotics.

Charging documents say the defendants each gave a different reason for traveling to Great Falls. None of them has any ties to Montana, according to court reports.

A fourth person was named as a passenger in the vehicle but was not on the list to make an initial appearance in Cascade County District Court on Monday. A name matching the additional passenger’s name matches the name of a male appearing in juvenile court Monday morning on new charges.

The state requested bail for each defendant be set at $100,000.