 SLIDELL -- A Slidell family experiencing car trouble was surprised last Wednesday after finding thousands of dollars worth of cocaine wrapped around the vehicle's gas tank, authorities said. Two bricks of cocaine worth $40,000 were discovered wrapped around the fuel line of the family's 1996 Toyota Camry last week after a vehicle inspection, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office spokesperson James Hartman said. The family, whose name is being withheld for safety reasons, noticed the vehicle decelerating on its own, Hartman said. Concerned, the family took the car to their regular mechanic in Slidell to investigate the problem, he said. After eliminating electrical, transmission and engine trouble, mechanics examined the fuel system. During the check, workers discovered two kilograms of cocaine wrapped around the Toyota's fuel line, Hartman said. The wrap holding the cocaine to the fuel system unfurled, causing the car problems, said Hartman. | Tape blocked the fuel pickup, most likely |
The St. Tammany Parish Narcotics Task Force responded to the scene and opened an investigation into the source of the drugs. The family told officials they had purchased the Toyota from a Slidell used car dealer in 1997 and that they had no idea they were hauling cocaine under their car for the past eight years, Hartman said. | For Sale: 1996 Toyota Camry, low milage, only driven to Mexico on weekends |
From their investigation, detectives quickly concluded the family had no prior knowledge of the drugs. Detectives are currently investigating the origin of the cocaine, working backward from the time the Slidell family purchased the vehicle, Hartman said. No arrests had been made in the case as of yesterday, deputies said. |
