The seized items by the Arlington Police Department.

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

A routine shoplifting call in Virginia turned into a massive drug and contraband bust after officers pulled over a suspect vehicle in Virginia and found it stuffed with paraphernalia, pills, ammo, and stolen merchandise, police said.

Officers working a retail-theft detail were first alerted around 4:25 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, when a shoplifting suspect fled in a vehicle near Army Navy Drive, according to the Arlington Police Department.

A BOLO was issued, and within minutes an officer spotted the car on South Joyce Street and made the stop.

What happened next escalated quickly.

Police said the vehicle was displaying an altered license plate and was going to be impounded. 

During the required search before towing, officers opened the doors and found an entire criminal toolkit inside: drug paraphernalia, suspected narcotics, handgun ammunition, and stolen goods.

A photo released by ACPD shows dozens of glass pipes, jars, rolls of copper mesh, stacks of prepaid Visa and retail gift cards, foil, bullets, fake plates, and bagged merchandise spread across the floor — the kind of haul police usually associate with a full-scale narcotics operation, not a shoplifting call.

Three people were arrested.

Police said the driver — a 54-year-old from Alexandria — was charged with two counts of possession of a Schedule I/II controlled substance, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute paraphernalia.

A 26-year-old from Arlington was charged with possession of cocaine and petit larceny, and a 20-year-old from Alexandria was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of fentanyl, and petit larceny, according to police.

Officers called the outcome an example of strong policing — a small theft call that unraveled a much larger problem.

The investigation is ongoing.