NOTE (Friday, July 27, 2017; 12:40 pm): This is an expanded version of a story posted earlier this morning.

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Police report they made a large drug bust, seizing approximately $5,000 worth of illicit drugs after stopping an older model auto containing five youths under age 18, which was traveling without its headlamps on at about 11:23 pm, Wednesday, July 25, on Church Hill Road, near the Newtown Mobil gas station/convenience store.

Patrol Sergeant Matthew Wood made the motor vehicle stop, said police spokesman Lieutenant Aaron Bahamonde. Sgt Wood and Patrol Officer Adam James are investigating the case.

After stopping the vehicle, which contained three girls and two boys, all of whom live in town, Sgt Wood detected the odor of alcohol, police said. The youths in the vehicle were ages 16 and 17, according to police, and the vehicle is owned by a 17-year-old boy who was driving the auto. Due to their age, police did not disclose the identities of the youths.

The five teens cooperated with police and were transported to the police station for questioning. Their parents were notified and went to the station.

The youths had been socializing before they were stopped by police, Lt Bahamonde said, July 27.

Police determined the driver to be the person who possessed the illegal drugs. Police seized the drugs, the vehicle, and several hundred dollars in cash, plus the driver's smartphone as evidence.

Lt Bahamonde said that the more than 1,000 Xanax prescription tranquilizer pills, which were seized, represent the largest amount of that drug ever seized by police at a traffic stop in Newtown. Also, police seized a large quantity of MDMA, a hallucinogenic drug commonly known as Molly, he said. Police also found a small quantity of marijuana.

Charges lodged against the driver include illegal possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to sell a controlled substance, possession with intent to sell a hallucinogenic substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The boy was issued a Juvenile Court appearance date to answer the charges.

"This was a great arrest by an alert patrol sergeant, who is also a 'drug recognition expert,'" said Lt Bahamonde. "Sgt Wood's efforts removed over 1,000 Xanax pills and a large quantity of Molly crystal rock from a drug dealer's hands and off the streets in Newtown," the lieutenant added.

Newtown police will work with the Danbury prosecutor's office in seeking the forfeiture of the driver's auto and his cash, the lieutenant said.

After questioning at the police station, all five youths were released into their parents' custody.

Police have had past contact with the boy who was charged with the drug offenses, but not for drug-related situations.