By Mike Finney

DOVER – Yoel Baez-Marte, 36, and Jonathan Rojas-Pena, 27, both from Wilmington, were arrested and are facing drug-dealing charges following a traffic stop early Friday morning in Dover, said Delaware State Police Spokesman Senior Cpl. Leonard DeMalto.

At around 5:52 a.m. on Friday, a trooper on patrol saw a blue 2010 Mazda Tribute going southbound on Del. 1 at a high rate of speed.

Spokesman DeMalto said the trooper stopped the Mazda as it turned off the highway onto the Puncheon Run Connector at Exit 97.

As the Mazda began slowing down, the trooper saw several bags of narcotics being thrown from the passenger window.

The bags were recovered at the scene and both the driver Mr. Baez-Marte and passenger Mr. Rojas-Pena were taken into custody without incident.

Troopers found about 1.74 grams of crack cocaine and 3.47 grams of xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, inside of the discarded bags.

Mr. Baez-Marte was charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (felony); possession of a controlled substance in a Tier 1 quantity (felony); tampering with evidence (felony); possession of drug paraphernalia; driving without a valid license and speeding.

He was committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington on $22,102 cash bond.

Mr. Rojas-Pena was charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (felony); possession of a controlled substance in a Tier 1 quantity (felony); tampering with evidence (felony); possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $22,100 cash bond.