Cops: Bus Passenger Had Methamphetamine Mixed In Wax Of 48 Religious Candles

A bus passenger was arrested yesterday after cops discovered that his luggage contained 48 Most Sacred Heart of Jesus candles that had methamphetamine mixed in their wax, according to Louisiana cops.

An El Expresso bus bound for Mobile, Alabama was pulled over early Thursday morning in Baton Rouge following a traffic violation. During a subsequent search of the coach’s cargo hold, a drug detection dog alerted to a suitcase.

When members of the Highway Interdiction Unit opened the luggage, they found the 48 religious candles, which contained “methamphetamine mixed in wax, disguised as candles,” according to investigators.

The seized candles are seen in the above Baton Rouge Police Department photo. While the candles weighed in excess of 110 pounds, police did not specify the weight of the meth discovered.  

While none of the bus passengers claimed ownership of the seized bag, cops located a photo of a man inside the suitcase. The image matched that of passenger Jose Antonio Rodriguez-Lara, a 19-year-old Texas resident.

Rodriguez-Lara, seen at left, was arrested on a felony narcotics charge and booked into jail, where he is being held in lieu of $30,000 bond.