On February 25th, Mississippi Highway Patrol Troopers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle in Pontotoc County for careless driving. The driver stated he was traveling from California to deliver medical supplies to a location in North Carolina.

After one of our K9s made a positive alert, 1,200 pounds of marijuana, 5,500 suspected items of drug paraphernalia, and 20 pounds of cannabis concentrate were found concealed in a vault at the back of the van.

The driver has been charged with trafficking marijuana and distribution of paraphernalia.

Trafficking controlled substances in the state of Mississippi carries a penalty of imprisonment for a term of no less than 10 years nor more than 40 years and a fine of no less than $5,000 nor more than $1,000,000. The ten-year mandatory sentence shall not be reduced or suspended, according to state law.