AR troopers find 211 lbs. of pot in Crittenden County traffic stop
Nov 21, 2024
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Arkansas State Police say troopers seized 680 pounds of illegal drugs and 13 illegal firearms from Arkansas interstates during the first three weeks of November.
The largest of the seizures occurred on Wednesday in Crittenden County, where Troopers stopped a Dodge Ram pickup eastbound on I-40. Troopers said they discovered 211 pounds of illegal marijuana wrapped in bundles in the backseat floorboard and in the bed of the pickup and two handguns in the vehicle.
The driver, Michael Penilton, 30, of Lamar, Miss., was arrested and transported to the Crittenden County Detention Center, where he was booked on felony charges of possession with intent to deliver and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.
On November 18, Arkansas State Police stopped a Ford Fusion on I-40 eastbound near London.
During a search of the vehicle, they said they found 93 pounds of illegal marijuana, 10 pounds of THC wax, 1,000 vape cartridges, more than $21,000 in cash, and a Glock Pistol.
November 18 seizure, I-40 near London, AR (Arkansas State Police)
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Graham Toth, 24, of Los Angeles, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms. Toth told investigators he was traveling from Los Angeles to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
On the same day, troopers said they confiscated 73 pounds of illegal marijuana from a Memphis driver in Lonoke County. Cameron Martin, 25, was transported to Lonoke County Detention Center and charged with felony possession with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, and unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate certain crimes.
Troopers said they also found approximately 130 pounds of illegal marijuana in multiple trash bags when they pulled over a Ford F-150 pickup truck along I-40 in North Little Rock on November 12.
The driver, Srdjan Novakovic, 65, of La Mesa, Calif., was arrested and charged with possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.
On November 4, the driver of a Toyota Camry was stopped for a traffic violation on I-40 eastbound near Morrilton. Troopers said they discovered multiple trash bags in the trunk containing 124 pounds of illegal marijuana in vacuum-sealed bundles.
The driver, Shouwei Jiang, 42, from New York, was booked on felony charges of possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jiang said he was traveling from Oklahoma to New York.
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Troopers also seized a stolen firearm, a bag of 9mm bullets, approximately 39 Oxycodone pills, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia from a driver in Pulaski County. Arron Robinson, 33, of Maumelle, is facing charges of possession with intent to deliver, possession of firearms by certain persons, possession of controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, and multiple traffic violations.