State Police recovered roughly 500 bags of suspected heroin after a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Carbon County last week, with assistance from a drug-sniffing dog.

Two men from Reynoldsville, Jefferson County were arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin as a result.

According to court documents, around 9 a.m. on Friday, a state trooper from the Fern Ridge barracks pulled over a vehicle that driving continuously in the left lane when the right lane was available.

Two men were inside the vehicle, a black 2007 Chevrolet Impala. Police said neither of them were the registered owner of the vehicle.

The driver, identified as Andrew Andre Hopes, 37, related that he had been taking a short trip from Newark, New Jersey, to Reynoldsville.

Troopers also noted that Hopes had a criminal history involving narcotics. According to court documents, Hopes pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute narcotics in Jefferson County in April, 2017.

The trooper said he asked the passenger, Nicholas Thomas DeCastro, 18, where they were going, and he offered conflicting details.

The trooper then asked Hopes for consent to search the vehicle, and he denied.

The trooper then called for another trooper to bring a drug-sniffing dog.

Khan’s handler led him around the exterior the vehicle and the handler signaled that Khan detected the odor of narcotics inside, prompting a search by troopers.

Inside the trunk of the vehicle, they found 10 bricks (500 bags) of suspected heroin wrapped in magazine paper.

They also found 600 empty baggies, stamped with the words “stranger danger,” which they believed were to be used to package the drug.

DeCastro and Hopes were each charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin.

They were both sent to Carbon County Correctional Facility Friday with bail set at $50,000 each.

DeCastro was released on Jan. 22 after posting bond.

Preliminary hearings have been scheduled for Jan. 31 before Magisterial District Judge Joseph D. Homanko Sr.