Jackson SO Traffic Stop on Highway 140 Led to Seizure of Ton of Marijuana
A Jackson County traffic stop on Highway 140 late last week led to the seizure of more than a ton of marijuana that was headed for Georgia.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a white Mercedes Sprinter van with Georgia license plates that was traveling east on Highway 140 near Salt Creek Road last Friday evening.
Deputies said they stopped the van for traffic violations and an Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) narcotics K-9 alerted on the vehicle. A search resulted in the discovery of 43 boxes of processed marijuana totaling over 2,200 pounds.
The driver had paperwork indicating the cargo was hemp. However, investigators tested the products for THC content and confirmed the green, leafy substance had more than 17% THC. Criminal charges were being reviewed by the Jackson County District Attorney's Office.
While regulatory agencies investigate permitted cannabis operations, IMET is focusing on the black-market marijuana trade in the Rogue Valley. IMET is a multi-agency task force funded by a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission.
The task force includes personnel from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police, Medford Police Department, Jackson County District Attorney's Office and US Homeland Security Investigations.
Posted on 9/19/24 6:45AM by Sam Marsh
