Humboldt County Drug Task Force press release:

On February 21 st , 2020, at approximately 9:00 a.m., special agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF), with the assistance of a narcotic detection K9 with the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 100 block of Davis Street, Rio Dell. Through their investigation, HCDTF agents learned that Maria Felipina Pelayo (age 33) and Noelle Christine Seely (age 42) were trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine from California’s central valley to Humboldt County. Agents secured a search warrant for both subjects and their vehicle.

During the traffic stop, Pelayo and Seely were detained without incident. The narcotic detection K9 was deployed and alerted to the presence of controlled substances inside the vehicle. Agents searched the vehicle and located over two pounds of suspected methamphetamine and over 10 pounds of processed marijuana. Agents also located digital scales, packaging material, and other items commonly used for narcotics trafficking.

Pelayo and Seely were subsequently placed under arrest and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. Both subjects were booked for possession and transportation of controlled substances for sales and illegal transportation of marijuana. Seely was also booked for driving on a suspended license.

Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes are encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976 or the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 707-268-2539.