HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. — A routine traffic stop by a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy in Hidden Valley Lake over the weekend quickly turned into a significant drug seizure.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the stop on Sunday, April 6, led to the arrest of a Clearlake Oaks man and the seizure of a large amount of methamphetamine.

The sheriff’s office said the deputy was following a vehicle that made an abrupt turn without signaling, nearly causing an accident. The deputy turned around to conduct a traffic stop for the violation.

As the deputy pulled up to where the vehicle had stopped on a side road, he noticed the driver — identified as Nino Davis, 49 — outside his vehicle, kneeling down and glancing around.

When approached by the deputy, Davis disclosed that he was on probation and subject to an active search clause.

After confirming this information, the deputy conducted a search of both Davis and his vehicle, uncovering four one-pound packages of methamphetamine Davis had attempted to conceal underneath the vehicle.

Davis admitted to receiving the drugs outside of the county, with instructions to deliver them to an unknown location in Clearlake.

Davis was arrested on felony charges related to possessing a controlled substance for sale and transporting a controlled substance within and between counties. The sheriff’s office said he was transported to the Hill Road Correctional Facility, where he was booked on the above charges.

The seized narcotics totaled more than 1,800 grams — an amount equivalent to roughly 18,000 doses and an estimated 128,000 hours of drug influence removed from our streets, the sheriff’s office reported.

“We commend our deputy for his vigilance, professionalism, and dedication to protecting our community. His quick thinking and proactive efforts are a testament to the vital work our deputies do each day,” the sheriff’s office said.

While this seizure is a major step in removing drugs from the community, the sheriff’s office said it recognizes that the fight against drugs in our communities is far from over. “Together, with continued effort and community support, we can strive toward a safer, healthier and drug-free Lake County.”