Routine traffic stops ends in heroin bust

March 25, 2012

A routine traffic stop Sunday morning, March 18, resulted in two arrests in what's being called the largest heroin bust ever in not only Boundary County, but the entire state of Idaho. According to court records, Bonners Ferry Police officer Willie Cowell was on patrol at around 7 a.m. when he spotted a 2012 Ford F150 pickup with no license plates on U.S. 95 at Alderson Lane. A subsequent search of the vehicle turned up approximately eight pounds of heroin, which would have a street value of over $1.5-million, and the occupants of the vehicle, Barbara Willoubhy, 22, and passenger Hector Rivera, 34, were taken into custody on drug trafficking charges. Both suspects are from California, and it's assumed that they weren't in Bonners Ferry to attend church services. Both are being held in the Boundary County Jail on $250,000 bond, with a first court appearance set for 1:30 p.m. Friday.