SALISBURY — A Rowan County Sheriff’s Office dog sniffed out $50,000 worth of cocaine and other drugs hidden in a vehicle on Interstate 85.

The Crime Reduction Unit was conducting operations on the interstate Tuesday when investigators stopped a blue 2001 Chevrolet Malibu for a routine traffic infraction.

The vehicle was registered to the driver, Marcus Demond Davis, 41, of the 8100 block of Vermilion Drive, Charlotte. Porschia Nicole Clay, 38, also of the same address, was a passenger.

When deputies approached the vehicle, they detected the odor of marijuana coming from the passenger compartment. A drug detection dog was brought in to “free air” search the vehicle. The dog detected the presence of controlled substances.

Deputies searched the vehicle and found a plastic bag containing about 6 grams of marijuana under the front passenger seat.

In addition, concealed in the back wheel well area of the car behind a carpeted area, they found a package containing 507 grams of cocaine, valued at $50,000.

Deputies also found $3,250 in cash.

The money and vehicle were seized to satisfy drug taxes owed to the North Carolina Department of Revenue, officials said.

Davis and Clay were each charged with Level III trafficking in cocaine by possession and transportation; possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; and maintaining a vehicle for dealing in controlled substances.

Davis and Clay each received a $30,000 secured bond.

Under North Carolina law, Level III cocaine trafficking carries a sentence of 175 to 222 months in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Clay has previous felony convictions for possession of drugs and larceny. Davis has convictions for motor vehicle violations.