Police: Man Had 33 Pounds of Cocaine in Gym Bag

A Malden, Massachusetts, man arrested at the Natick rest area on the Massachusetts Turnpike with a gym bag police allege was stuffed with 33 pounds of cocaine worth $1.5 million has been held on $500,000 bail.

The MetroWest Daily News reports that 30-year-old Rafael Guzman was arrested Wednesday and pleaded not guilty Thursday to a cocaine trafficking charge in Natick District Court.

State police say they were conducting surveillance at the rest stop when they saw Guzman arrive alone, enter the food court, buy some food, and sit down with another man who had the bag under the table. Police say when Guzman left, he took the bag with him. Police also allegedly found $15,000 cash in his car.

Guzman's lawyer questioned the legality of the police search and requested $5,000 bail.