POCATELLO — The Idaho State Police removed 18 pounds of methamphetamine with a potential value of $150,000 off of local streets following a traffic stop on Tuesday.

The incident unfolded on Interstate 86 near Pocatello when the Idaho State Police Domestic Highway Enforcement team conducted a traffic stop on a white 2015 Hyundai Genesis with a registration that was invalid, state police said in a recent news release.

The driver of the car, 23-year-old Maryjane Maria Gomez, from Tulare, California, did not have a valid driver’s license and suspicious behavior was observed from the occupants, state police said.

Additionally, the trooper also detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and observed marijuana products inside the Hyundai.

A thorough vehicle search was conducted and troopers discovered and seized multiple THC vape cartridges and significant quantities of methamphetamine. Eighteen plastic packages containing methamphetamine, weighing approximately 18.1 pounds, were located inside the Hyundai.

The driver was arrested and booked into the Bannock County Jail for trafficking meth and the three additional occupants in the vehicle were also arrested for drug trafficking charges — 37-year-old Marissa Nicole Delegarza, also from Tulare, California and two juvenile males.

”This seizure highlights our unwavering commitment to removing illegal drugs from our communities,” stated Domestic Highway Enforcement Canine Sgt. Chris Cottrell. “These dangerous substances pose significant risks to public health and safety, and we remain dedicated to protecting our citizens.”

State police said that law enforcement professionals’ effective responses during encounters like this one showcase the importance of patrols and traffic stops to identify and disrupt criminal activities.

Through proactive measures, partnerships and high-visibility patrols, ISP continues working to keep the public safe.

As part of Gov. Brad Little’s Esto Perpetua, the ISP Domestic Highway Enforcement team is composed of 14 members, including seven canine handlers, spread throughout the state using the latest intervention techniques to combat emerging criminal trends.

The Domestic Highway Enforcement team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency, prosecutor-supported approach.

The team is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, composed of members from the Idaho State Police.

This is an Office of National Drug Control Policy sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, ensuring the effectiveness of police operations.