By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men along I-26 after discovering they had approximately 3,000 oxycodone pills in their possession.

The arrest occurred on Wednesday, Aug. 26 when the Polk County P.A.C.E team saw a 2010 Hyundai traveling west on I-26 moving in an erratic manner, according to sheriff’s office reports.

Deputies stopped the vehicle for failing to maintain a lane.

Jose Barata Vazquez was arrested and charged with maintaining a vehicle to keep a controlled substance, trafficking a schedule II controlled substance and conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance, according to sheriff reports.

Ranier Viladrell-Munoz was arrested and charged with maintaining a vehicle to keep a controlled substance, trafficking a schedule II controlled substance and conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance, according to sheriff reports.

During the traffic stop deputies became suspicious of the occupants of the vehicle. Officers investigated further and discovered a container in the vehicle that had been tampered with. Deputies discovered approximately 3,000 dosage units of oxycodone inside the container, according to sheriff reports.

Oxycodone is a narcotic pain medication that is habit forming and is a controlled substance that is associated with a tremendous amount of abuse in western North Carolina, officers said.

The seized narcotics are estimated to have a $135,000 street value, according to the sheriff’s office.

Both Vazquez and Viladrell-Munoz were given bonds of $300,000 and were still being held in the Polk County Jail as of Thursday.