Marijuana starter plants
Some marijuana starter plants removed from rental truck on October 17, 2011 on Interstate 80 east of Evanston. Photo courtesy Wyoming Highway Patrol.
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Pot bust
Law enforcement personnel remove equipment & plants from truck on October 17, 2011 on Interstate 80 east of Evanston. Photo courtesy Wyoming Highway Patrol.
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Drug duffle bag
One of the four black duffle bags where Troopers discovered 73 pounds of marijuana east of Rock Springs on October 19, 2011. Photo courtesy Wyoming Highway Patrol.
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Troopers make drug busts on I-80
by Wyoming Highway Patrol
October 19, 2011
Wyoming Highway Patrol Troopers continue their criminal interdiction efforts across the State of Wyoming making some notable seizures within the last couple of weeks.
On October 6th just before 10:00 p.m. a Trooper made a traffic stop on a small rental truck 20 miles east of Evanston on eastbound Interstate 80. At the time of the traffic stop there was a light snowfall and the stop was for a speeding violation. The two occupants of the rental truck stated they were en-route to the State of New Jersey from northern California.
During the traffic stop a consent to search was obtained from the driver of the rental truck. In the enclosed cargo box of the truck Troopers located a marijuana growing operation that consisted of growing equipment and 363 starter marijuana plants approximately 4 to 6 inches tall.
Troopers requested assistance from Special Agents with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Personnel from the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security’s Rapid Response Hazmat Team and the Evanston Fire Department also responded due to the nature of this seizure.
Chemical suits were utilized by law enforcement personnel since the seizure involved live plants that may have toxic molds and the plants may have had unknown chemicals and fertilizers applied to them.
Both occupants were arrested and have been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and with felony conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance.
Two sizable interdictions have been made today. Both have been on Interstate 80 on the western part of the State and both have been marijuana seizures.
The first seizure was made on eastbound Interstate 80 approximately 11 miles east of Rock Springs. During this traffic stop, for an unsafe lane change, the Trooper could smell the strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. That resulted in the seizure of just less than 6 pounds of marijuana which was located in a duffle bag in the trunk of the vehicle.
The driver who has been cited for driving with a suspended driver’s license also faces felony charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. The driver stated she was coming from California with a final destination in the State of Indiana.
The second seizure this morning (Wednesday, October 19) was made on eastbound Interstate 80 approximately 22 miles east of Rock Springs on a vehicle that was following a tractor trailer with less than a car length between them.
During the traffic stop the Trooper deployed his drug detection K-9 around the vehicle and the K-9 alerted to the presence of contraband. Troopers have seized approximately 73 pounds of marijuana in four black duffle bags and have arrested two individuals who face felony charges as well.
The two individuals stated they were en-route to Minneapolis, Minnesota from Las Vegas, Nevada.
All three of the above mentioned cases remain under investigation at this time.
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