WEBSTER PARISH, La. (KSLA) – A man is behind bars in Webster Parish after officials say around a quarter of a million dollars in marijuana was seized.
It all started with a car being pulled over on I-20 in Webster Parish Tuesday (March 18). A man from Georgia was arrested as a result of the traffic stop.
Sheriff Jason Parker says deputies stopped a truck pulling a camper trailer near the Dixie Inn exit around 10 a.m. for an unspecified traffic violation. While talking to the driver, Joseph Harper Jr., 65, of Sylvania, Ga., and his passenger, deputies noted some discrepancies in their travel. Because of this, deputies request Louisiana State Police to bring a K-9 to the scene.
OTHER CRIME IN THE ARKLATEX
Officials say K-9 Migo alerted officers to the presence of drugs in the camper. The sheriff’s office says that’s when Harper admitted there was a large amount of marijuana inside. He also reportedly admitted to carrying a handgun in the truck.
During the search of the camper, officers reportedly found several duffle bags full of marijuana. Approximately 150 lbs (more than 4,000 g) of high-grade marijuana was seized. Authorities say that’s about $225,000 worth of the drug.
Webster Parish deputies seized around 150 lbs of marijuana from this camper during a traffic stop on I-20 on March 18, 2025.(Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office)
Harper was arrested and is being held at the Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center on charges of:
possession with the intent to distribute a schedule I narcoticpossession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substanceunspecified traffic violation
Harper’s bond was set at $275,000.
An investigation into the situation is ongoing.
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