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2 Philadelphia men arrested after traffic stops yield big heroin busts

Michael Chandler and some of the heroin troopers say they found in his vehicle during a traffic stop. (Courtesy of Delaware State Police)
Michael Chandler and some of the heroin troopers say they found in his vehicle during a traffic stop. (Courtesy of Delaware State Police)Read more
    by Emily Babay, PHILLY.COM
    Published 

Two Philadelphia men were arrested after separate traffic stops in Delaware on Wednesday yielded big drug busts.

Delaware State Police said 35-year-old Michael Chandler was stopped for speeding on Route 1 near the Biddles Toll Plaza just after 3:45 p.m. A police canine detected the presence of drugs.

Troopers searched his 2014 Dodge Charger and found 271 grams of pure heroin and 83.2 grams of cocaine, authorities said. Once diluted, the heroin would have had a street value of more than $400,000 according to police.

Then, at about 9:15 p.m., 22-year-old Luis Garcia Valle was pulled over for moving violations in Claymont at about 9:15 p.m.

Police said Garcia Valle acted suspiciously during the stop, and a drug-sniffing dog alerted officers to the possible presence of drugs in the 2000 Mercedes-Benz S340 he was driving.

Troopers found a hidden compartment that held 13,006 bags of heroin -- containing 325.15 grams of the drug -- as well as $6,900 in cash.

Both men have been charged with drug offenses, and are being held on $1.3 million bail.