A traffic stop in South Carolina on Thursday escalated dramatically when the driver, suspected of being in the country illegally, allegedly claimed a bomb was onboard his tractor-trailer. This led to a nearly five-hour closure of Interstate 85, causing significant traffic disruption.

28-year-old Ahmad Jamal Khamees Alhendi was initially stopped by state transport police around 2:45 p.m. for a missing license plate on his truck. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), Alhendi then informed the officer of an explosive device inside the vehicle.

The alleged threat prompted an immediate shutdown of all six lanes of I-85 near Mile Marker 44. The Greenville County Sheriff's Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the FBI were all involved in investigating the threat, causing extensive traffic backups and delays.

After a thorough search, authorities cleared the 18-wheeler and reopened I-85 around 7:40 p.m. Alhendi appeared in court on Friday, facing charges of conveying false information about a bomb threat, breach of peace of a high and aggravated nature, and operating a vehicle without a license. His bond was set at $20,238.

According to a Greenville County Detention Center spokesperson, an ICE detainer has been placed on Alhendi, indicating his potential status as an illegal immigrant subject to removal from the U.S.

SCDPS confirmed the tractor-trailer is registered to Globe Transportation in Illinois. A company spokesperson acknowledged Alhendi's employment but declined to comment further. Fox News Digital has contacted ICE and the FBI for additional information.