Laurel County law enforcement early yesterday confiscated a large amount of drugs during a traffic stop on I-75.

A car was stopped near the KY 909 exit by one London Police Department officer and two deputies with the Laurel County Sheriff’s office, just before 12:30 a.m.

The stop led police to discover the driver, 45-year-old Barry Patton of Richmond, was driving on a suspended license. A K-9 unit was called and alerted officers that there might be drugs in the vehicle.

Police searched the car and discovered roughly 5 grams of what is alleged to be crystal meth and more than 12 grams of what is alleged to be heroin. Officers also discovered drug paraphernalia such as clear plastic bags, a scale and a glass vial containing white powder. Police also found a handgun.

Patton was arrested and charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession a handgun while being a convicted felon. 41 year old Joshua Lopez of Berea, who was a passenger in the car, was cited for trafficking in a controlled substance and other charges.

The officers who arrested Patton are part of the Laurel County 75/80 Drug Interdiction Team. The interdiction team is made up of officers from the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office and London Police Department, and was formed to combat drug trafficking and other drug related offenses along I-75 and KY 80 corridors.