K-9 assists; two guns also confiscated; both suspects from Washington already bonded out of custody
SANTA NELLA, Calif. – On October 4, 2024, at approximately 2:40 p.m., a California Highway Patrol (CHP) Central Division canine officer seized around 120,000 fentanyl-laced pills during a traffic stop on Interstate 5 in Merced County. The discovery, with an estimated street value of $1.2 million, resulted in the arrest of two suspects on multiple felony charges.
The incident began when the CHP officer pulled over a Chevrolet Malibu for a traffic violation on northbound I-5 at the Santa Nella Platform Scale. During the stop, the officer detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana and observed several indicators suggesting criminal activity.
After establishing probable cause, the officer searched the vehicle, uncovering two loaded firearms—one hidden under the driver’s seat—and approximately 120,000 fentanyl-laced pills concealed in the trunk.
The driver, Henry Tsan, 25, of Renton, Washington, and the passenger, Cashous Sauntino Keowongphet, 23, of Seattle, Washington, were arrested and booked into Los Banos City Jail. Both suspects face charges of possession of fentanyl for sale, transportation of fentanyl across non-contiguous counties, possession of fentanyl while armed, possession of a loaded firearm, and possession of a concealed firearm within a vehicle.
“Our canine officers are on the front lines in the fight against drug trafficking. This significant seizure underscores the ongoing efforts of the California Highway Patrol to combat drug trafficking and protect California’s communities from the dangers of illicit narcotics,” said CHP Central Division Chief Damon Gilmore.
The case was turned over to the Merced Area Gang Narcotics Enforcement Team, which is a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program composed of law enforcement personnel from the California Department of Justice, the California Highway Patrol, the Merced County Probation Department, the Merced County District Attorney’s Office, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, and the Livingston Police Department.
According to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, both Tsan and Keowongphet are Asian/Pacific Islander and as of Wednesday, Aug. 9th, had bonded out of custody. See their booking photos at RecentlyBooked.com here and here.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
