Hempfield Township, PA -- A traffic stop initiated by Pennsylvania State Police led troopers to discovering 40,000 baggies of suspected fentanyl inside of a vehicle on the Pennsylvania turnpike. 

As troopers were monitoring traffic along I-76 near mile marker 89 in Hempfield Township, they noticed a Honda H-RV traveling west and observed the vehicle making several traffic violations. 

Troopers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and identified the driver as Gerard Polanco-Peralta, of New Jersey. 

Throughout the course of the traffic stop, state police noticed several indicators of criminal activity displayed by Polanco-Peralta. 

Police requested the driver's consent to search the vehicle, which was granted. 

Troopers located a red bag inside of the vehicle that contained approximately 800 bricks, or 40,000 baggies, of suspected fentanyl. 

The approximate street value of the drugs is upwards of $80,000. 

Polanco-Peralta is facing drug-related charges and was denied bail. 

Disclaimer: To the extent that pending criminal matters are discussed, all such charges are merely accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.