Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested four people after finding more than 230 pounds of marijuana and other controlled substances in two traffic stops this week.
On Monday at approximately 3:00 p.m. a trooper observed a Dodge Ram fail to signal a turn as it was exiting Interstate 80 at mile marker 231. During the traffic stop, an NSP K-9 detected the presence of a controlled substance inside the pickup. A search of the vehicle revealed 88 pounds of marijuana, concealed in luggage in the bed of the pickup. Troopers also located THC pills, THC vape cartridges, THC wax and THC gummies in the cab of the pickup.
The driver, 21 year old John Valencia Lopez and passengers, 23 year old Jesse Jarquin and 21 year old Evelin Morales Ramos, all of Georgia, were each arrested for possession of marijuana more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver and no drug tax stamp. All three were booked into the Dawson County Jail.
On Tuesday at about 11:30 a.m. another trooper performed a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Silverado for a registration issue. During the traffic stop on I-80 near North Platte the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. A search of the vehicle revealed 146 pounds of marijuana contained in the bed of the pickup as well as a small amount of methamphetamine in the cab of the pickup.
The driver, 51 year old Brian Nixon of Kokomo, Indiana, was arrested for possession of marijuana more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and no drug tax stamp. Nixon was booked into the Lincoln County Jail.