Traffic stop 200 miles away leads to arrest in Winona, big drug seizure

(KWNO)-A traffic stop on the other side of the state led to a man being arrested in Winona. Troopers pulled over a vehicle on Thursday in Worthington and found 22 pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl. The driver revealed the drugs were bound for Winona which initiated a multi-agency operation. A law enforcement officer drove the vehicle the more the 200 miles to Winona and parked it at the Super 8 Motel. About an hour later deputies from the Winona County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies saw 41-year-old Rafael Lopez approach the car. According to a WCSO spokesperson, Lopez looked in the vehicle several times before officers moved in and arrested him. In addition to the MN State Patrol and WCSO, officers from the DEA, BCA and Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team were involved in the operation. The entire operation was also monitored by a State Patrol helicopter.