Police: Ex-MLB pitcher Esteban Loaiza arrested with 44 pounds of narcotics

Tom Schad | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Former MLB pitcher Esteban Loaiza arrested with 20 kilos of drugs Former MLB pitcher Esteban Loaiza was arrested last week in San Diego and faces several felony drug charges, according to the San Diego Sheriff's Department.

Clarification: This story has been updated to reflect that the drugs are still being tested but are suspected to be cocaine.

Former MLB pitcher Esteban Loaiza was arrested in San Diego on Friday on three drug-related felony charges, including possession of roughly 44 pounds of suspected cocaine.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department said in a press release Monday morning that Loaiza was arrested as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation. He was driving a vehicle that police believed was being used to smuggle drugs and was pulled over for a minor traffic infraction, according to the release.

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During a search of the vehicle, police found a "sophisticated aftermarket compartment used to conceal contraband."

A subsequent search of a home leased to Loaiza led to the discovery of about 20 kilograms (or 44 pounds) of suspected cocaine valued at approximately $500,000, according to the release. The home is "just steps away" from a preschool, according to police.

Lt. Jason Vickery told The Associated Press that the packages of drugs are still being tested.

Loaiza was booked at roughly 6 p.m. local time Friday and is being held at the South Bay Detention Facility on $200,000 bail, according to online inmate records. He is also facing felony charges of possessing and transporting a controlled substance with the intent to sell.

“I am shocked and saddened by the news and had no indication he would ever be in this type of situation,” his agent John Boggs told the San Francisco Chronicle. “I don’t know how he would get himself involved in this, so it’s difficult to even comment on it.”

Loaiza is due to appear in court Wednesday, according to online records.

Loaiza, 46, spent parts of 14 seasons in the major leagues with eight teams, including back-to-back All-Star appearances with the Chicago White Sox in 2003 and 2004. The right-handed starter last appeared in a big-league game in 2008, finishing his career with a 4.65 ERA in more than 2,000 innings pitched.

According to Baseball-Reference, Loaiza made more than $43.7 million over his career.

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.