Arkansas State Police Seize 775 Pounds of Drugs in Massive Bust

Arkansas continues to fight drug trafficking throughout the state. Troopers with the Arkansas State Police (ASP) have seized more than 775 pounds of illegal narcotics and arrested several suspects during a series of recent traffic stops across the state in the past few weeks.

Crawford County in Arkansas Traffic Stop Nets 45 Pounds of Marijuana

On Wednesday, February 17, around 4:15 PM, troopers stopped a gray sedan traveling eastbound on Interstate 40 near the 2-mile marker in Crawford County for a traffic violation.

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As they searched the vehicle, Arkansas State Troopers located around 45 pounds of illegal marijuana packaged in vacuum-sealed bags in the trunk. The passenger, Jatorria Lewis of Memphis, was arrested and booked into the Crawford County Detention Center on felony drug charges.

Authorities say the driver was contacted through a ride-share service and was released with a traffic warning. Lewis told investigators she was traveling from Oklahoma City to Little Rock.

Suspect Apprehended After Foot Chase in Marion County, Arkansas

On Monday, February 16, around 7 AM, the U.S. Marshals Service notified ASP that they had lost sight of a vehicle they were pursuing in Memphis.

Troopers spotted the vehicle and the suspect, Gevonte Brown, 24, of Memphis, in a hotel parking lot in Marion. When Troopers started to approach, Brown fled on foot but was caught and taken into custody.

Authorities searching the vehicle found 19 pounds of marijuana and two firearms, one of which had been reported as stolen. Brown, who also has outstanding warrants in Tennessee, was booked into the Crittenden County Detention Center on multiple felony charges.

Traffic Stop in Hot Spring County Yields Methamphetamines in Arkansas

On Friday, February 6, around 7:45 in the morning, a trooper stopped a Nissan Rogue traveling eastbound on Interstate 30 near the 88-mile marker in Hot Spring County.

A quick search of the vehicle and troopers found approximately 115 pounds of methamphetamine that were packed in multiple cardboard boxes. The driver, Pedro Lorenzo Valdez, 45, was arrested and booked into the Hot Spring County Detention Center on felony trafficking and other related charges.

Valdez told investigators he was traveling from Dallas to Little Rock.

Lonoke County Stop Leads to Largest Seizure in Arkansas in February

On Thursday, January 29, around 5:30 PM, a trooper stopped a Sprinter van traveling eastbound on Interstate 40 near Carlisle.

Troopers discovered 24 trash bags containing around 600 pounds of illegal marijuana, along with 15 boxes of THC products. The driver, Kemal Malicbegovic, 44, of Greensboro, North Carolina, was arrested and brought to the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Detention Center on felony charges of trafficking a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Malicbegovic told investigators he was traveling from Los Angeles to Greensboro.

Thanks to the Arkansas State Police, none of these drug traffickers made it to their destination.