LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — While performing three separate traffic stops on Monday, February 5, troopers with Arkansas State Police were able to take three people into custody and confiscate almost 340 pounds of illegal, black-market marijuana from Arkansas highways.
They were also able to confiscate other narcotics including crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and even a firearm.
According to reports, troopers conducted a traffic stop along I-40 just before 4:15 p.m. where they found 70-year-old Paul Magda of New Jersey with 240 pounds of marijuana. He was taken into custody and booked into the Pulaski County Detention Center on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and of possession of a schedule VI controlled substance with a purpose to deliver.
About half an hour later while they were doing another traffic stop along Highway 165, troopers took 56-year-old Gregory Stewart of England, Arkansas into custody. They found him with 32 grams of crack cocaine, two fentanyl pills, 25 grams of methamphetamine, 25 grams of marijuana, and a firearm.
He was taken into custody and booked into the Lonoke County Detention Center on charges of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of firearms by certain persons, possession of methamphetamine with the purpose to deliver, and possession of a schedule I or II substance with the purpose to deliver.
Hours later, troopers were performing another traffic stop on I-40 just before 8:00 p.m. when they found 51-year-old Lawrence Allende of California with about 100 pounds of marijuana inside his vehicle. He was taken into custody and booked into the Prairie County Detention Center on a felony charge for possession of a controlled substance.
“We are obviously pleased when we can prevent hundreds of pounds of dangerous drugs and weapons from entering our communities because even small amounts of illegal drugs have the potential to destroy Arkansas families,” said ASP Colonel Mike Hagar. “These seizures are a testament to ASP’s unwavering commitment to keeping Arkansas safe for law-abiding citizens.”