Man with links to Mexican drug cartels caught with a kilo of cocaine

CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – Deputies say an Onslow County man with ties to Mexican cartel drug traffickers is in jail on $1.5 million bond after his arrest.

Carteret County deputies attempted to stop Hector Rivera II last Monday, leading them on a high-speed chase into Onslow County. Officers say the man left his vehicle with a kilo of cocaine found in a trailer.

With the help of Onslow County officials, the Hubert man was finally caught Friday and charged with cocaine trafficking and three counts of felony fleeing to evade arrest.

Rivera was originally jailed on a $250,000 bond, but on Monday that was increased to $1.5 million during the man's first court appearance.

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