146 pounds of cocaine found in big rig

The California Highway Patrol seized nearly 146 pounds of cocaine Sunday at the inspection facility in Cottonwood.

"Our canine units were conducting random inspections on tractor-trailers as they came through the facility when one of the dogs alerted on the tractor hauling a trailer around 11:30 a.m.," CHP Lt. Scott Fredrick said.

During a search of the rig, CHP officers reportedly located the wrapped and packaged cocaine in a false compartment built into the tractor's frame rails, Fredrick said.

"We believe the drugs to have a street value of $6.6 million," Frederick said

"It appears the tractor-trailer, which was carrying car parts, was traveling northbound on Interstate 5 from the Los Angeles area to Canada."

The driver, Robert Alan Chernochan, 54 of Langley, was arrested and booked into the Tehama County Jail on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance and use of a compartment to hide a controlled substance.

Bail was set at $10,050,000.