CRAWFORD COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — A K-9 officer helped police uncover $16 million worth of illegal marijuana during a safety inspection on I-40 in Crawford County on Monday, Feb. 10, according to the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT). This comes after 2,872 pounds of illegal marijuana were seized in the same area on Monday, Feb. 3.
According to ARDOT, a commercial vehicle was being inspected by the Arkansas Highway Police (AHP) Division of the Arkansas Department of Transportation when K-9 officer Mack alerted police of the presence of drugs.
The release states officers found seven pallets with approximately 4,900 pounds of marijuana. ARDOT said this has a “street value” estimated at over $16 million.
Officials with AHP said their department’s drug seizures typically range “between 2,000 and 3,000 pounds,” making this case “among the top five largest on record.”
The 27-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and is being held at the Crawford County Detention Center.
Director Jared Wiley expressed his appreciation for Mack and the other officers by saying:
“We recently brought back our K-9 program. I am proud of our officers and their K-9 partners in their commitment to addressing the problem of transporting illegal substances across our highways.”
