LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas State Police (ASP) announced that they have seized over 680 pounds of illegal narcotics and several firearms from people trafficking contraband along state interstates in November.
According to ASP, the seizures happened over the course of the first three weeks of November — authorities said the largest of those seizures took place on Wednesday, Nov. 20 in Crittenden County when troopers stopped a Dodge Ram pickup around 11:30 a.m. on I-40 east.
It's during this traffic stop that troopers found 211 pounds of illegal marijuana inside of the backseat floorboard and in the bed of the truck. Additionally officers found two handguns in the truck. As a result, 30-year-old Michael Penilton was arrested and transported to the Crittenden County Detention Center where he faces multiple drug charges
Just days prior on Nov. 18, troopers stopped a Ford Fusion on I-40 east near London, which led to the seizure of 93 pounds of marijuana, 10 pounds of THC wax, and 1,000 vape cartridges. This led to the arrest of 24-year-old Graham Toth, of Los Angeles, California. Toth faces multiple charges related to gun and drug possession.
Earlier in the month, troopers also arrested 65-year-old Srdjan Novakovic of La Mesa, California, after troopers conducted a traffic stop on I-40 east in North Little Rock. Troopers said the incident happened on Nov. 12, when authorities stopped a Ford F-150 and found roughly 130 pounds of illegal marijuana stuffed in trash bags.
Additionally, troopers stopped a Toyota Camry along I-40 east near Morrilton on Nov. 4 in reference to a traffic violation. As authorities searched the vehicle, they found 124 pounds of illegal marijuana stored in vacuum-sealed bundles. This led to the arrest of 42-year-old Shouwei Jiang, of New York,
Jiang was booked for charges related to drug possession and intent to distribute drugs.
Alongside those incidents, here's a list provided in the words of ASP, which includes instances that troopers considered to be "other significant seizures in November:"
• November 18, Troopers stopped a Toyota 4Runner in Lonoke County and found 73 pounds of illegal marijuana. Cameron Martin, 25, of Memphis, Tenn., was arrested and 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.
• November 18, Troopers stopped a Chevrolet Equinox on I-40 in Pope County and discovered 21 pounds of individually wrapped packages of illegal marijuana. The driver, Richard Juritsch, 34, of Charlotte, N.C., was arrested and transported to the Pope County Detention Center, where he was booked on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
• November 12, ASP stopped a Hyundai Elantra and seized a stolen firearm, a bag of 9mm bullets, approximately 39 Oxycodone pills, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia. Arron Robinson, 33, of Maumelle, was arrested and transported to the Pulaski County Detention Center, where he was booked on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Firearms by Certain Persons, Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and multiple traffic violations.
• November 11, Troopers stopped a Nissan Sentra in Pope County. A search found a large duffel bag containing 24 one-pound vacuum-sealed bags of illegal marijuana in the trunk of the vehicle. Emon Washington, 23, of Marietta, Ga., was arrested and transported to the Pope County Detention Center, charged with felony Possession with Intent to Deliver and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Washington told investigators he was traveling from Oklahoma City to Little Rock.
• November 10, Troopers stopped a Chrysler Pacifica in Lonoke County. Troopers discovered three cardboard boxes in the rear cargo area containing 49 pounds of illegal marijuana. The driver, a 51-year-old man from New Jersey, was arrested and transported to Lonoke County Detention Center, where he was booked on charges of felony Possession with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and use of another person’s property to facilitate a crime.
• November 4, ASP stopped a Chevrolet Malibu in Morrilton. Troopers found 51 pounds of individually packaged illegal marijuana. Wendy Hernandez, 30, of Dickinson, Texas, was transported to the Conway County Detention Center, where she was charged with felony Possession with the Purpose to Deliver and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Hernandez told investigators she was traveling from Oklahoma to Knoxville, TN.
