Nebraska man arrested with 55 pounds of meth disguised as Christmas presents, police say

JEFFERSONTOWN, Ky. (KOLN) - A Nebraska man was arrested Monday after Kentucky authorities found 55 pounds of suspected methamphetamine disguised as Christmas presents inside a vehicle.

The Jeffersontown Kentucky Police Department said 23-year-old Jacob Talamantes was arrested during a narcotics investigation on Dec. 22.

Investigators contacted and detained Talamantes when he arrived in a vehicle in the area of Bluegrass Parkway and Decimal Drive in Jeffersontown.

Jeffersontown police said a K-9 alerted authorities to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle.

A search of the trunk uncovered multiple boxes containing a total of 55 pounds of suspected methamphetamine wrapped in Christmas paper, police wrote.

Jeffersontown police said Talamantes told investigators he was traveling from Iowa and intended to traffic the drugs.

Talamantes was arrested on suspicion of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. Police said additional charges are possible as the investigation continues.

“No amount of festive wrapping can disguise the harm these drugs inflict on families and communities. The coordinated efforts of partner agencies ensured these holiday-wrapped packages never reached the streets,” Jeffersontown Police Chief Richard Sanders said.

Jeffersontown police was assisted by the Kentucky State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration in the investigation.