Federal authorities said Sunday that 17.5 pounds of "black tar" heroin found Friday during a traffic stop near Redding probably originated in Mexico.
Gordon Taylor, head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's Sacramento office, said the black gummy-like substance known as "black tar" is "the heroin of choice" on the West Coast because of its availability in Mexico.
Shasta County sheriff's officials said the incident began when they stopped a red Volkswagen that was following a car too closely.
They got the driver's ID when a scent-dog arrived and smelled something behind the front bumper – blocks of the heroin, weighing 17.5 pounds and valued at $2.8 million, the officials said.
Authorities said the suspect fled and remained at large Sunday.
The Shasta County Sheriff's Department and the DEA are working together on the case. "We are working with local authorities, but we are not the lead (investigator)," DEA's Taylor said.
He said that there has been a noticeable increase in heroin seizures recently.
Stanislaus, Fresno and Merced counties are high trafficking areas for Mexican drug cartels, he said.
Currently, the wholesale price of heroin is less than methamphetamines, Taylor said.
"On average, meth costs $1,000 to $1,500 per ounce," he said. Heroin is sold by the "piece" which is 3 1/2 grams less than an ounce.
On average, each "piece" costs between $500 and $1,000.
That is a change from the past, when heroin was considered to be very expensive, he said.
Call The Bee's Wesley DeBerry, (916) 321-1098. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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