Lance Martin, Herald Senior Staff Writer

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ROANOKE RAPIDS - Less than a month after breaking up a major identity fraud ring on Interstate 95, Roanoke Rapids police seized nearly $9,000 that may be tied to the drug trade.

Officer John Taylor was on routine patrol on the interstate Wednesday morning when he stopped Naim Sanders of New Jersey for speeding, Chief Jeff Hinton said.

Sanders and Antwan Horton, who is also from New Jersey, were in a rental car. Neither man was listed in the rental agreement.

Hinton said when Taylor did a protective pat down of Horton, he discovered $8,909 in four large bundles in the man's pockets.

A canine was called to the scene and a small amount of marijuana was discovered in the center console. The federal Drug Enforcement Agency was contacted and has agreed to take the case, Hinton said.

Horton has a lengthy criminal record that includes drug sales, and DEA requested the cash be turned over to federal authorities.

While Horton was not charged, Naim was charged with speeding. The men gave conflicting stories about their travel plans.

Under federal seizure guidelines, Hinton said the police department may get 80 percent of the money back to be used for drug enforcement efforts.

The cash seizure Wednesday is the latest of successes the police department has had on the interstate since a portion of it was brought into the city's jurisdiction through annexation, Hinton said. “I'd say we've done very well. We've broken up a theft ring out of Florida and have also recently dealt with a copyright infringement case.”

That case involved two people who had computer equipment to illegally copy DVDs and had illegal DVDs with them.

“It's paying off,” he said. “We're most pleased with the one such as (Wednesday's), where there has been illegal money seized and turned over the federal authorities, which in turn will turn the money over the police department for combating illegal drugs and drug activity without it costing the taxpayers.”