Quebec man facing charges in Arizona after 50 kilograms of cocaine found in car

MOHAVE COUNTY, Ariz. – A Quebec man who was originally stopped in Arizona for tailgating faces two drug charges after a K-9 dog named Amigo sniffed out what police say is 50 kilograms of cocaine.

Girolamo Del Balso faces two felony charges — possession of narcotics for sale and transporting narcotics for sale — after authorities allegedly found the drugs in his car.

Police say Del Balso was detained Feb. 17 after an Arizona State trooper stopped him on an interstate for being too close to another vehicle.

The trooper requested assistance from a Kingman police department K-9 unit — and that’s when Amigo went to work.

Kingman police spokeswoman Jennifer Sochocki said the drugs were allegedly packed in duffle bags in the trunk of a rental vehicle in which Del Balso was the only occupant.

Police said the drugs had a street value of $3.7 million and were believed to be destined for Canada.

Police downgraded the amount seized after previously saying it was 62 kilograms.

Del Balso, who is from Laval, has alleged ties to the Mafia in Montreal.

Sochocki says Del Balso is being held on $750,000 bail.

According to the Mohave County jail’s website, Del Balso was still behind bars Wednesday.

A clerk at the local courthouse said the accused is due in court on Friday for a preliminary hearing.

If convicted, Del Balso faces a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.

Note to readers: This is a corrected version. A previous story, citing an erroneous police statement, said 62 kilograms of cocaine were seized