By Pat Culverhouse

A pair of Texas men are currently being held in the Webster Parish prison after a Tuesday traffic stop on Interstate 20 revealed a cache of illegal narcotics.

According to Louisiana State Police, 21-year-old Basilio Adrian Valdez, Jr. of Rio Bravo and 25-year-old Alexis David Gomez, of San Antonio are both charged with possession of CDS Sch. II (cocaine) and attempt and conspiracy (distribution) after troopers found approximately one to one and one-half pounds of cocaine inside their vehicle.

Both men reportedly are being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center where bond has been set at $100,000 each.

During questioning following the traffic stop, the state trooper reportedly observed Gomez, the driver, exhibiting “nervous/deceptive behavior common among drug smugglers committing criminal activity.”

Gomez reportedly signed a consent form granting the trooper permission to search the vehicle. Inside the vehicle, a package was found stuffed under the driver’s seat. Inside the package, the trooper reportedly located two clear plastic baggies containing a white substance believed to be cocaine.

Following their arrest, Gomez and Valdez were transported to the Minden police department where Louisiana State Police narcotics agents reportedly continued to investigate.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.