Police are saying that they took a major heroin dealer off the street after a traffic stop Tuesday night.

The Bartholomew County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team has been investigating 34-year-old Matthew “Matty” Zook of Columbus, who they believe has been bringing heroin into the community from the Cincinnati area, says Lt. Matt Harris, spokesman for the Columbus police.

Harris said they developed the information after anonymous tips, and interviews with witnesses and overdose victims.

On Tuesday night, JNET officers saw Zook driving on County Road 800N and pulled him over for a traffic violation. A Columbus police dog smelled around the vehicle and allegedly alerted to the smell of drugs, inside, Harris says. A search allegedly uncovered 34 grams of heroin, two grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, suboxone strips, money and a handgun.

Zook and a passenger, 34-year-old Tasha L. Barnes of Columbus, were arrested on preliminary charges of dealing heroin and possessing heroin, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance. Zook is also facing charges for the unlicensed firearm.

The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is made up of Bartholomew County sheriff’s deputies, Columbus police and the county prosecutor’s office.