Nearly a dozen pounds of marijuana was discovered when state police pulled over an Ohio man on Interstate 91 in Middletown early Thursday.

The marijuana was found after a trooper patrolling I-91 South spotted a vehicle with no tail lights on just before 12:45 a.m. and initiated a motor vehicle stop, according to Connecticut State Police. The driver of the silver Jeep Compass pulled over in the right shoulder just before Exit 19.

State police said a trooper approached the Compass and identified the driver as 51-year-old Kareem Ali Ford using his Ohio driver’s license. The Jeep was found to be a rental vehicle.

About 11 lbs. of marijuana was seized on Thursday during a traffic stop in Middletown. (Courtesy of Connecticut State Police)

According to state police, Ford allegedly admitted to the trooper that he had several pounds of marijuana inside the vehicle. Another trooper responded to the stop before a search of the vehicle allegedly turned up about 11 pounds of cannabis and $5,501, state police said. The marijuana and cash were concealed in duffle bags and backpacks in various areas of the vehicle.

State police said Ford did not have a medical marijuana card and was not a licensed cannabis distributor. He was taken into custody and transported to Troop H in Hartford.

Ford faces charges of possession with intent to sell a controlled substance, possession with intent to sell a kilogram or more of cannabis, illegal possession of a controlled substance, operating a motor vehicle without carrying an operator’s license and failure to display lighted lamps on a motor vehicle.

Ford was held on a $100,000 bond and was expected to appear before a judge in Middletown Superior Court on Thursday.

Originally Published: August 15, 2024 at 11:15 a.m.