Courtesy photo/VCBJ mug.
Correy Warren, 32, who has previously served time in prison for selling drugs, was charged with trafficking in cocaine Wednesday night with $32,000 worth of cocaine seized.
DELTONA -- Agents with the West Volusia Narcotics Task Force seized more than two pounds of cocaine early Wednesday evening worth an estimated $32,000 on the streets during a traffic stop in Deltona prompted by an anonymous tip that led to the arrest of Correy Warren, 32, who was driving the vehicle and admitted that the narcotics were his, a Volusia County Sheriff's spokesman said.
"Investigators found a brick of cocaine tucked inside a backpack, about 175 grams of cocaine packaged in six plastic bags and $8,000 in cash neatly stacked inside a cracker box," Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught said. "A subsequent search of his home turned up a stolen handgun, about 100 more grams of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Warren faces charges of cocaine trafficking, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, grand theft of a firearm and two counts of use, possession, manufacture, delivery, transportation, or advertisement of drug paraphernalia."
The West Volusia Narcotics Task Force was advised Wednesday afternoon by a concerned citizen who wanted to remain anonymous that there was drug activity at 2031 Jefferson Ave, Haught said.
The tipster also said that whenever a blue Volkswagen was parked there, it's likely that it's being used to transport drugs, Haught said.
"Investigators and deputies then strategically positioned themselves in the neighborhood nearby and kept an eye on the Volkswagen that was in front of the house," the Sheriff's spokesman said. "At about 5:40 p.m. two men got into the car and drove away. But the driver didn't properly stop at a nearby intersection, which prompted deputies to pull him over."
When Warren was directed to get out of the car, he was asked if he had any drugs or weapons on him, and he admitted to having marijuana in his pocket, Haught said, adding a small amount of the drug was found in a bag there.
A drug-sniffing K-9 brought in to sniff the outside of the car alerted to the presence of drugs near the rear passenger door. A subsequent search revealed the cocaine brick and cash.
The passenger was interviewed, but he said he knew nothing about the drugs and was later released, Haught said.
Investigators then searched Warren's house, which was the Jefferson Avenue home. The gun and other drug materials were found there. Warren had served nearly three years in state prison for a drug trafficking and drug possession convictions in 2003.
Warren was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach.
FAST FACTS
The West Volusia Narcotics Task Force is a multi-agency force of investigators from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office and DeLand Police Department that shares resources and crosses jurisdictional boundaries to combat street-level drug and vice crimes.