Montana man charged with meth trafficking

COEUR d’ALENE — A Montana man accused of trafficking more than a pound of meth is being held on $250,000 bail.

Gabriel D. Ludden, 42, is charged with trafficking in methamphetamine, a felony.

Idaho State Police stopped Ludden’s vehicle Saturday night for an alleged traffic violation and for driving with a suspended license.

During the stop, police reportedly observed a “machete-type knife” between the driver’s seat and center console, as well as multiple smaller knives in plain view inside Ludden’s vehicle.

Police detained Ludden, who allegedly admitted to having meth in his pockets.

A search of the vehicle allegedly yielded approximately 704 grams of meth — about 1.5 pounds — as well as drug paraphernalia.

Police arrested Ludden at the scene.

First District Judge Ross Pittman ordered Monday that Ludden be held on $250,000 bail.

In Idaho, trafficking more than 400 grams of meth is a felony punishable by a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison and a maximum life sentence.