Traffic stop leads to discovery of over $1.5 million in cash - 14 News, WFIE, Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro

Traffic stop leads to discovery of over $1.5 million in 62-year-old's car

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Carole Irene Galvez. Source: Illinois State Police Carole Irene Galvez. Source: Illinois State Police

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MADISON CO., IL (WFIE) -

Illinois State Police say they have arrested a 62-year-old Arizona woman after a traffic stop led troopers to finding more than $1.5 million cash in her car. 

ISP says around 3:30 p.m. on January 26, a trooper patrolling I-55, southbound near Collinsville, stopped a 2004 white Volvo convertible for improper lane usage with an illegal license plate cover. 

State police say conversation with 62-year-old Carole Irene Galvez led the trooper to believe she was involved in criminal activity. The trooper asked for, and was granted consent to look further inside the vehicle. 

Upon further investigation, the trooper located 27 vacuum-sealed plastic bags containing $1,589,860 in U.S. currency. 

"Cash amounts this large are usually connected to illegal drug trafficking," said District 11 Commander, Captain Brad Parsons. "Drugs destroy lives and rip families apart, but when our officers apply training and solid police work, they are able to hinder the ability of these criminal enterprises from harming more people," he added.

Arrested for money laundering was Carole Irene Galvez, 62, from Gila Bend, Arizona.  Galvez is currently being held at the Madison County Jail on a $500,000 bond. 

The Illinois State Police and the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southern Illinois (MEGSI) collaborated on this investigation.  They worked closely with the Madison County State's Attorney's office to secure charges.

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