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At approximately 1:30 a.m., Westport Police Corporal Kevin Smith observed a suspicious vehicle parked at Torno Hardware, which was closed for business, on Post Road East.
One female and two males occupied the vehicle at the time and another person associated with the vehicle, later identified as 30-year-old Ninifa Ruiz, soon emerged from behind the building, police said.
While speaking with the occupants, Cpl. Smith detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the car. Backup officers arrived on scene to assist. The female occupant was in possession of a small amount of marijuana, for which she was issued an infraction. Ruiz was later found to be in possession of ecstasy pills.
Cpl. Smith deployed his partner, K-9 Onyx. During a subsequent search of the car, officers discovered approximately $110,000 inside a backpack. None of the parties claimed the backpack or its contents, nor did they have any explanation for the excessive amount of cash.
Ninifa Ruiz, of Everett, Massachusetts, was taken into custody and officers seized the ecstasy pills and money. Ruiz was transported to headquarters where she was charged with sale of hallucinogen and possession of a controlled substance/hallucinogen.
She was released after posting $7,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in Norwalk Court on Oct. 16.
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