A Texas K-9 deputy helped nab a Houston-area trio for money laundering and illegal drugs on Wednesday.
COLORADO COUNTY, Texas — A routine traffic stop along Interstate 10 in Colorado County turned into a money laundering and drug investigation Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
According to the Colorado County Sheriff’s Office, Investigator Tyler Pavlicek, assigned to the Criminal Interdiction Unit, stopped a Kia SUV traveling eastbound near the 695 mile marker around 12:24 p.m. on Feb. 4, 2026, after noticing a traffic violation.
There were three men inside the SUV.
After speaking with all three of them, Pavlicek asked for consent to search the vehicle, which the trio reportedly denied. He then requested assistance from the Austin County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy O. Buitron responded with his K-9 partner, Knox, who conducted a free-air sniff of the SUV and gave a positive alert, authorities said.
Investigators later found several plastic bags containing U.S. currency bundled with rubber bands, along with a THC vape pen. In total, $31,513 in cash was seized during the investigation.
All three people in the SUV were taken into custody and face charges related to possession of a controlled substance and money laundering, officials said.
Authorities emphasized that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Colorado County Sheriff’s Office credited the outcome of the stop to teamwork, thanking the Austin County Sheriff’s Office and K-9 Knox for their assistance. Officials said both agencies remain committed to working together to improve public safety across their communities.