A routine traffic stop in a small Alabama town led to the arrest of two illegal immigrants from Colombia and the seizure of 46 pounds of cocaine, according to local authorities.

Calera Police Chief David Hyche said an officer pulled over a vehicle last week for not having a license plate. During the stop, “probable cause for a search was evident,” leading to the discovery of the drugs. The estimated value of the cocaine is still being determined by Homeland Security Investigations.

The driver and passenger were arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine. One of the men is also wanted in Atlanta for drug trafficking and failure to appear in court, Hyche said.

“We didn’t initially know where these two were from, what they had in their car or their immigration status,” Hyche stated. “The choices these two men made led to this outcome.”

Authorities believe the men were traveling from California to Miami and took an unusual route to avoid drug interdiction areas.

“If they chose I-65 to avoid heavy drug interdiction areas, it didn’t work out for them,” Hyche said.

Despite growing criticism of traffic stops for minor violations, Hyche defended the practice, citing cases where such stops have led to major arrests or the rescue of children in danger.

“Many departments around the U.S. have ceased making stops for minor traffic violations. I have repeatedly spoken out against this and other instances where law enforcement leaders apologize for enforcing the law or change policy to appease critics,” Hyche said. “We in law enforcement don’t make laws, we enforce them.”

Hyche also pointed to weak border enforcement as a key factor in the availability of drugs.

“If we control the borders, the dope would be expensive,” he said. “The solution has to be at the border. It can’t be here.”

Shelby County District Attorney Matt Casey praised the police department for its work, stating that the two suspects are being held on a $10 million bond.