A California Highway Patrol K-9 made a major drug bust on his first day on the job, authorities said.

On Tuesday, a Central Division K-9 officer and his canine partner, Jag, conducted a traffic stop on I5 in Merced County that led to the discovery of about 20 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, the CHP said in a statement.

Jag alerted to the presence of narcotics, prompting a search of the vehicle’s trunk, where officers found the drugs with an estimated street value of $272,400, officials said.

Both occupants were taken into custody without incident, and the investigation was turned over to the Merced Area Gang Narcotics Enforcement Team.

—

Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.