Buhl man arrested on drug trafficking charges

Elmore County sheriffs deputies located approximately one pound of marijuana and small amount of crystal substance they is methamphetamine during a search of a vehicle driven by Jose G. Ortega of Buhl.

Elmore County sheriffs deputies arrested a Buhl man on drug-related charges Thursday morning.

Jose G. Ortega, 27, remains in confinement at the Elmore County detention center on charges with trafficking in marijuana, two counts of possessing a controlled substance as well as using or possessing drug paraphernalia.

According to a press statement released by Chief Deputy Mike Barclay, sheriff's deputies made contact with Ortega, whose vehicle was parked at the Hammett Café in Hammett around 1 a.m. that morning. Following that contact, Deputy Carolyn Bailey requested a K9 narcotics team to the scene.

During a search of the vehicle, the canine alerted to the presence of narcotics. Deputies searched the vehicle and located approximately one pound of marijuana and small amount of crystal substance that deputies suspect is methamphetamine.

The case remains under investigation.