Yemassee police seize $70,000 in cash in I-95 traffic stop

A man initially suspected of driving under the influence was stopped on I-95 in the town of Yemassee and found with nearly $70,000 in cash, officials say.

The driver, a resident of Miami, was spotted swerving in and out of the southbound lane several times by officers with the Yemassee Police Department, the town’s Police Chief Gregory Alexander said on Saturday.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. Thursday night near exit 38 of the interstate.

Officers found the cash in a store shopping bag in the front seat of the driver’s car after the driver consented for his vehicle to be searched, Alexander said.

Officers determined the car, a Kia Cadenza, was a rental and that the man had flown to New York City the day before, rented the car and was driving back to Miami.

Police believe the incident is drug-related, Alexander said.

The driver was stopped for failure to maintain a lane, Alexander said, but he was not arrested. The incident is now a matter for the federal forfeiture courts, he said, and has been turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Beaufort County Solicitor’s Office and ICE are continuing to investigate.

This story was originally published April 9, 2016 at 6:56 PM with the headline "Yemassee police seize $70,000 in cash in I-95 traffic stop."