Coming to Gadsden in an apparent attempt to sell a sizable amount of meth, an Atlanta man had gone to great lengths in an attempt to evade arrest, all of which turned out to be a lot of effort for nothing.

According to Etowah County authorities the black Honda Accord 36 year old Frank Vasquez arrived in was equipped with a secret hydraulic compartment designed to smuggle his cash and drugs.

Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit Deputy Commander Phil Sims said that agents were given information that a large quantity of meth was being brought into the area, as part of a large transaction which had been set up.  Agents spotted the subject’s vehicle in the parking lot of Gander Mountain off of East Meighan Boulevard at around 7:30pm – and a subsequent search inside that car turned up over two pounds of methamphetamine, tucked away inside a compartment in the center console.

The compartment had reportedly been made by removing an airbag and placing a switch to bypass the rearview side mirror control and instead open and close the compartment using the hydraulics.

Vasquez was arrested and charged with drug trafficking; he has a prior arrest for marijuana possession in Atlanta.  He is currently being held on a cash bond of $100,000.

More arrests could be forthcoming in connection with the case.