Pearl K-9 Splinter makes million-dollar drug bust

A Colorado man is in custody after he was arrested allegedly transporting about a million dollars' worth of drugs.

Authorities said Eloy Guttierrez Reyes of Denver was arrested after Pearl narcotics detectives stopped his 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Sunday on I-20. Pearl K-9 Splinter alerted on the vehicle, and upon investigation, detectives found 47 pounds of methamphetamine and 53 pounds of marijuana. Pearl spokesman Capt. Brian McGairty said the bust came about as a result of a routine traffic stop.

Detective Chris Picou said Reyes was alone but that he isn't working alone.

"He's absolutely going to be part of a larger operation. That's a significant amount for a small group, so this is going to be a good-sized group moving that much meth," Picou said. "We know Atlanta is a major hub and the cartels want to get their product from the southwest border to Atlanta, and they come through here."

Authorities said even if the drugs aren't stopping in the metro area on the way to Atlanta, it's a win to get them off the streets, no matter where they're headed.

"People say, why are we worried about it if it's going to Atlanta, but the metro area gets a lot of its drugs from Atlanta," Picou said. "The drugs move from west to east, but they move back. This war on drugs, if you want to call it that, the city of Pearl isn't in that by itself, and everyone needs to do their part. Forty-seven pounds of liquid meth is pretty significant."

McGairty said arrests like that of Reyes play a vital role in helping fight crime because it helps connect the dots on major drug networks.

"We (now) have vital information that we will use in the next apprehension," he said.

Picou said Splinter has been on the force for a short time.

"Splinter should get the credit. He did alert to it, and he led us to where it was hidden, which was significant," he said. "He's been on the road about four or five weeks and has already got a million dollars worth of drugs under his belt."

Reyes was booked on possession of marijuana and meth with the intent to distribute. He is being housed in the Rankin County jail. Bond has not been set.

The Rankin County Sheriff's Department, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force assisted on the investigation.

Contact Therese Apel at tapel@gannett.com or (601) 961-7236. Follow @TRex21 on Twitter.