Yes. They search lots of young guys illegally and get away with it because not enough young guys know their rights and how to handle the situation, nor do they usually have the $$$ to fight the case. Unless he had something in plain sight I can’t see how the officer had any grounds to search him unless he bent over to the man.
Quarter roll and nothing more. Also an enclosed envelope addressed to a lawyer that is supposed to be strictly confidential may work too. They can’t just open that without opening a can of worms.