Press Release: MCSO K9 Alerts to 2.2 Pounds of Fentanyl During Traffic Stop

DATE/TIME: 08/13/25 at 4:40 PM

TYPE OF INCIDENT: K9 Rocket Locates 2.2 Pounds of Fentanyl During Traffic Stop

LOCATION: Highway 101, Greenfield, California

MEDIA CONTACT: Andres Rosas, Commander; Phone: 831-261-5492; Email: rosasae@countyofmonterey.gov

Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested the driver of a vehicle for transporting over 2.2 pounds of fentanyl after she was stopped for traffic violations.

On the morning of August 13th, 2025, around 1:00 AM, a Monterey County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a vehicle code violation while it was traveling on Highway 101 in the area of Greenfield. During the traffic stop, the deputy’s K9 partner, Rocket, alerted to the presence of a controlled substance.

A search of the vehicle revealed the driver was in possession of about 2.2 pounds of fentanyl. The driver, identified as Andrea Salazar of Castroville, age 31, was taken into custody without incident.

Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto stated,

“This arrest is another successful result of the crucial role that our K9 handlers and our narcotics trained K9s play in protecting the community. We are proud of the hard work done by our deputies and K9 Rocket as they prevented this fentanyl from reaching the community. Because of their skilled work, dangerous illegal substances were kept off our streets.”

Andrea Salazar was booked into the Monterey County Jail for possession and transportation of controlled substances for sales and distribution as well as a violation of her probation. Her bail was set at $40,000.