2 women arrested after 52 pounds of meth found in suitcase during Georgia traffic stop

Authorities seized 52 pounds of meth during a traffic stop Monday morning.

Credit: Butts County Sheriff's Office

Credit: Butts County Sheriff's Office

Authorities seized 52 pounds of meth during a traffic stop Monday morning.

A traffic stop on I-75 in Butts County led to 52 pounds of methamphetamine being seized and two alleged drug traffickers being arrested.

A deputy pulled over a 2020 Chevrolet Camaro on I-75 North about 9:45 a.m. Monday after spotting it rapidly changing lanes, according to a Butts County Sheriff’s Office incident report obtained by AJC.com.

The driver of the Camaro, which had a Maryland tag, allegedly cut off another vehicle and failed to maintain its lane.

The deputy pulled over the vehicle, driven by Tiffany Shavonne Crawford, 41, of Canton, near mile marker 202, the report said. Ariana Chentale Matthews, 22, of Troy, Michigan, was a passenger in the car.

Ariana Chentale Matthews (left), Tiffany Shavonne Crawford

Credit: Butts County Sheriff's Office

icon to expand image

Credit: Butts County Sheriff's Office

When approached by the deputy, Crawford’s hands were seen “shaking” as she fumbled around for a cigarette, the report said. Both women were described as in “fight or flight” mode and were visibly afraid.

The deputy smelled marijuana from inside the car and noticed a large suitcase in the backseat, the report said. While Crawford denied there was any marijuana in the vehicle, Matthews eventually admitted she had some in her pants, the deputy said.

A probable cause search was then conducted of the vehicle, which led to 52 pounds of meth being found inside the suitcase, the report said. The women allegedly told deputies they thought it was marijuana and they had been paid to traffic it.

Matthews told authorities that she flew with the meth from California to Orlando, where the two were paid to drive it to Atlanta, the report said. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration was notified of the seized drugs.

Both women were charged with two counts of trafficking meth and were booked into the Butts County Jail.

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