ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio — A 35-year-old man from Centreville, Virginia, faces felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized 5.6 pounds of cocaine during a traffic stop in Belmont County, troopers said.
On June 4 at approximately 1:26 p.m., troopers stopped a disabled 2026 Chevrolet Equinox with Virginia registration on State Route 331. Troopers said drug paraphernalia was visible in plain view, prompting a probable cause search of the vehicle. That search turned up the cocaine, with an estimated value of approximately $304,000, according to the Patrol.
The driver, identified as Charlie Chavarria, 35, of Centreville, Virginia, was booked into the Belmont County Jail. He faces charges of possession of drugs, a first-degree felony; possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor; and operating a vehicle while impaired.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol asks anyone who observes suspected drug trafficking or drug-related activity on Ohio roadways to report it by calling #677.
