BUFFALO, NY-- Three men are under arrest following a drug bust by the Erie County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators say deputies stopped a tractor-trailer on July 20 and say the driver and passenger gave conflicting statements that made officers suspicious that the truck was being used for illegal activities.
The trailer was impounded for safety violations, and the two men Eric Young, 44, and Chancellor Smith, 22, both of Alabama, were released.
On July 24, the Sheriff's office says Young and Smith retrieved the tractor trailer from the impound lot. Police followed the men and say they saw them exchange large bags with a third man. That man has been identified as Lance Parker, 41 of Buffalo.
The next day, police say they stopped the same tractor trailer on Slade Avenue in West Seneca and found over $650,000 in cash inside the tractor trailer.
They arrested both Young and Smith were and charged them with criminal possession of narcotics, conspiracy-intent to perform and criminal possession of a narcotic with intent to sell.
At the same time, another group of detectives pulled over a vehicle on I-190. Inside that vehicle, police say they found 17 kilos of cocaine.
The driver of the vehicle, Lance Parker, was charged with criminal possession of a narcotic, conspiracy-intent to perform , and criminal possession of a narcotic with the intent to sell. Officials say Parker is an employee of the Buffalo Sewer Authority. He has been placed on administrative leave.
The three men are currently at the Erie County Holding Center pending arraignment.
The New York State Police assisted the Sheriff's Office in the investigation.
