LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — Arkansas State Police has a special team that works to patrol the busiest interstates for illegal contraband, which makes the Natural State one of the leading states in the nation for drug seizures.
Sergeant Chase Melder is a part of Arkansas State Police's Interstate Criminal Patrol Team, also known as the "interdiction team."
"It's basically the preventing or stopping of illegal contraband across our highways," said Sgt. Melder.
ASP has twelve officers on the team who are specialized in intercepting illegal drugs, but all of their troopers go through some sort of training.
This was the case on Monday night when troopers seized nearly 340 pounds of illegal marijuana during three different traffic stops. Two of the three people who were arrested in those incidents were from out of state.
Two interstates in Arkansas connect the state from coast to coast and north to south— Interstate 30 and 40.
"So, we get the stuff that comes up from Mexico through Arizona and California and comes east, but also because of Interstate 30 all the stuff that comes from the valley of Texas and the Houston area comes right up Interstate 30 into Arkansas," said Sgt. Melder.
ASP seized 11,000 pounds of drugs total last year and they hope to continue to keep Arkansas's interstates safe and free of drugs that are coming into the state.
"Our troopers are going out on the highway and seize that stuff before it ruins somebody's life," said Sgt. Melder.