160+ Pounds of Marijuana Seized in Arkansas State Police Traffic Stops on I-40

Having just returned from a trip across the Great State of Arkansas and using Interstate 40 to do it, I can attest that the Arkansas State Police are out there doing their jobs. Oh, I didn't get stopped, but I saw a lot of people who did. Looks like some of those who got pulled over recently were transporting things other than a family on vacation. As you may have guessed, some of them, and their cargo, did not make it to their destination.

Arkansas State Police made a series of significant drug seizures along I-40 last week, resulting in multiple arrests and the confiscation of more than 160 pounds of illegal marijuana. Between July 9 and July 13, Troopers stopped four separate vehicles in Pope, Faulkner, and Crawford counties, each leading to felony arrests.

July 9 – Crawford County:

Around 10 AM, Arkansas Troopers pulled over a 2021 Toyota Sienna near the Arkansas/Oklahoma state line in Crawford County. A search of the vehicle uncovered about 87 pounds of marijuana bundled inside large trash bags. The driver, Ziling Zhou, 31, of Seattle, Washington, was arrested and charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Unauthorized Use of Another Person’s Property to Facilitate a Crime.

July 12 – Faulkner County:

At approximately 9 AM, ASP Troopers stopped a Nissan Armada near mile marker 128 in Conway. Inside the vehicle, officers found 51, one-pound bags of marijuana. Carl Newman, 52, of Buford, Georgia, was arrested and charged with felony Possession with Intent to Deliver. He said he was traveling from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Georgia.

July 12 – Pope County:

Later that same day, Troopers stopped a Volkswagen Jetta on I-40 near Atkins. A search revealed 15 pounds of marijuana in one-pound bundles stored in the trunk. The driver, James Jones, 32, and passenger, Christen Springer, 37, both of West Memphis, Arkansas, were arrested and charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

July 13 – Pope County:

Around 2 AM, Troopers stopped a 2008 Chevy Impala near Russellville. Inside the trunk, officers found 10 pounds of marijuana wrapped in individual bundles. The driver, Demarcus Towns, 40, of Charleston, Mississippi, was arrested and charged with multiple felony drug offenses.

All suspects were booked into county detention centers and face felony charges related to drug possession and intent to distribute. The cases remain under investigation, and remember, all accused are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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