California K-9 Otis helps police seize 440 pounds of cocaine during Alhambra traffic stop

The Alhambra Police Department said the incident began after officers conducted a traffic stop along Valley Boulevard near the 710 Freeway.

Although authorities did not say what prompted the initial stop, they noticed the driver appeared to have an unusual amount of cargo in his vehicle.

"The driver was transporting more cardboard boxes than Amazon on Prime Day," police said in a social media post.

That's when the driver began offering an explanation for the boxes, according to police.

"At first, he said he was heading home to Huntington Park from his cousin's house and that the boxes were not his," police said in the post.

But that wasn't the man's only story.

"Later came version 2.0 of his lore," police continued, "and he said he was taking diesel parts to a shop that his friend owned."

Police said Otis alerted officers to the vehicle, prompting them to search the SUV.

The driver, identified as Julio Rangel of Huntington Park, was arrested and booked into the Alhambra Police Department jail, according to police.

Following the drug bust, Otis was hailed as the hero of the operation.

"A round of a-paws for our good boy, K9 Otis," police said.

Users on social media also praised the K-9's work, with many arguing that Otis had earned a promotion - and was perhaps even on track to become police chief one day.

"Give that dog a bone!" another user exclaimed.

One user joked about Otis' ability to sniff out criminals.

"No One escapes from the Long Paw of …. The DOG"

Others suggested that, at the very least, Otis deserved a big steak dinner.