LOXLEY, Ala. — A routine traffic stop on Interstate 10 netted Loxley police more than an impaired driver in the early morning of July 8.

A Loxley officer on routine patrol spotted a 2009 Dodge Caravan traveling too close to other vehicles on the road around 1:45 a.m.

After making the stop near the mile 42 marker west bound on the Interstate, the officer found three men in the van, all foreign nationals from Africa. The men have been identified as Ismael Diallo, Mohamed Diarra and Madiou Diallo, all from West Africa. The specific country or countries have not been released.

The officer also observed an electronic “card swiper” like the ones used by legitimate businesses to collect credit card information for payment.

This swiper was said to be connected to a computer in the back of the van,

The swiper or “skimmer” as they are sometimes called, can take enough information from the electronic stripe on a card so it can be used for fraudulent purposes. According to the Bankrate.com Web site, “Card losses due to skimming exceed $1 billion a year.”

All three men have been arrested charged with possession of a forgery device, and U.S. Customs and Immigration officials are also investigating.