A Freeborn County District Court judge on Wednesday ordered DNA samples of four people arrested in September for allegedly possessing more than eight pounds of cocaine on Interstate 35 in Albert Lea.

The buccal DNA samples of the defendants will be compared to DNA found on packages of the drugs seized from the vehicle on Sept. 18 in a traffic stop near the overpass bridge to Interstate 90.

Assistant Freeborn County Attorney Paige Starkey said there were at least two major DNA profiles found on the drugs, which were wrapped in plastic, cellophane and black electrical tape.

Though authorities initially found three packages containing a total of 8.5 pounds of cocaine,  Starkey said a subsequent search discovered a significant amount more.

Facing charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance are:

Eliel Garcia, 21, of Bloomington

Maria Guadalupe Nunez Arenas De Garcia, 69, of Tolleson, Ariz.

Rogelio Rocha, 22, Tolleson

Jose Luis Ramirez, 37, of Phoenix

Court documents state a Minnesota State Patrol trooper initially pulled over the vehicle at 1:07 a.m. Sept. 18 because it did not have a rear license plate light on. The vehicle was traveling northbound.

Rocha was the driver and was found to have an Arizona driver’s license. The vehicle was registered in Minnesota but had a license plate registration sighting on Interstate 40 in Arizona on Sept. 2.

The court documents stated a search of the vehicle with a dog alerted to the odor of drugs from the car near the front passenger-side quarter panel and front bumper.

The trooper found two packages behind the glove box and near the front quarter panel. The third package was found under the center console of the driver’s side of the vehicle.

Ramirez had $1,195 in cash.

Lawyers for two of the defendants in court Wednesday said they were concerned with the probable cause in the case, while a third challenged the search and seizure.

First-degree possession carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. It carries a presumptive sentence of seven years and two months in prison.