Truck Driver Charged After 200 Pounds of Meth Seized During I-35 Stop in Lakeville
LAKEVILLE, MINNESOTA - A California-registered commercial truck driver is facing two felony first-degree controlled substance charges in Dakota County after authorities say they discovered roughly 200 pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside his semi-truck during a late-night traffic stop on I-35 in Lakeville.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office, 42-year-old Jonathan Israel Tirado-Juarez was charged with first-degree controlled substance sale and first-degree controlled substance possession, both involving more than 100 grams or 500 dosage units of methamphetamine. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to 40 years in prison and fines reaching $1 million.
Traffic Stop Leads to Major Seizure
The incident occurred around 11:40 p.m. on September 26, 2025, when a Minnesota State Patrol trooper observed a truck tractor pulling a van-type trailer traveling below the posted speed limit on I-35 in Lakeville. The trooper noted the truck was failing to maintain its lane and initiated a traffic stop.
A check of the truck’s license plate revealed it was expired out of California. When the vehicle stopped, Tirado-Juarez exited the cab and walked toward the trooper, behavior that the trooper described as unusual for a commercial vehicle inspection.
Authorities said Tirado-Juarez appeared nervous and was unable to produce a driver’s license, instead attempting to show a photograph of his Mexican commercial driver’s license on his phone. He also failed to provide the necessary commercial vehicle paperwork.
Tirado-Juarez reportedly told the trooper he was traveling from Omaha, Nebraska, to Saint Paul, Minnesota, but said the truck was empty and could not specify where in Saint Paul he was headed to pick up a load. The trooper found it suspicious that a commercial driver would travel about 400 miles with an empty trailer given the operational costs involved. Tirado-Juarez also said his boss had driven him from Tijuana, Mexico, to Omaha.
K9 Alert and Discovery
Due to the inconsistencies and suspicions of drug trafficking, a K9 unit was requested to the scene. The dog alerted to the presence of narcotics, prompting troopers to search the truck.
Inside, investigators found four boxes, one on the floor behind the driver’s seat and three atop the mattress in the sleeper berth. The boxes contained numerous plastic bags filled with a crystalline substance. Tirado-Juarez’s personal belongings, a bag with shoes and a shirt, were found next to the boxes.
Field tests confirmed the substance was methamphetamine, classified as a Schedule II controlled substance. The total weight of the seized drugs was estimated to be about 200 pounds.
Prosecutors Seek High Bail
Prosecutors noted in court documents that Tirado-Juarez has no known ties to Minnesota and lacks a Minnesota driver’s license. Given the quantity of narcotics, the interstate nature of the trafficking, and the presumptive prison sentence on the top count (65 months minimum), the court was asked to impose a substantial bail amount to ensure his appearance in court. Ultimately, his bail was set at $150,000 without conditions and $100,000 with conditions.
Tirado-Juarez remains in custody at the Dakota County Jail. His next court appearance is set for October 22, 2025, at 1:30 PM in Hastings, Minnesota. Reminder, criminal complaints are only allegations, and Tirado-Juarez is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Provided by Dakota County Jail.
Written by: Will Wight
