SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – A police K-9 officer helped find 17 kilograms of cocaine Friday morning in Southfield, after authorities said the woman carrying the drugs flew from Las Vegas to Detroit Metro Airport.
Drug Enforcement Administration agents said previous cases of narcotics being flown in from Las Vegas to be distributed in Metro Detroit had them on alert for such "suspicious activity."
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According to police, Cheryl Cheatham arrived in Detroit from Las Vegas at around 5:30 a.m. Friday and retrieved two suitcases from the baggage claim.
READ: Criminal complaint against Cheryl Cheatham
Police said Cheatham tried to evade officials who became suspicious when she appeared not to recognize the bags. Cheatham walked toward the Metro Car stand, where she stood for about 10 to 15 minutes before turning around, making random pauses to check if anyone was pursuing her before getting into a cab, police said.
Authorities followed her to the Westin Hotel in Southfield, where she did not check in but entered the restaurant at about 6:45 a.m.
Agents saw Cheatham leave the hotel at 8:45 a.m. in a black Lincoln, and a state trooper was called upon to perform a traffic stop.
A Michigan State Police trooper stopped the vehicle on Southfield Road near Fenkell Avenue in Detroit.
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The driver of the Metro Car told the trooper that he was taking a guest from the hotel and gave consent to search the vehicle.
The trooper's his K-9, Otto, who is trained in detecting the scent of narcotics, alerted him to the presence of narcotics, and the officer discovered two suitcases one of which contained 8 kilograms of cocaine and the other 9 kilograms of cocaine.
Cheatham was taken into custody, charged with possession with Intent to distribute cocaine.
Cheatham was convicted of transporting and selling controlled substances in 1986 and arrested for importing a controlled substance in 1972.
Drug reports from Local 4: