ALMA, Ark. — Arkansas Highway Police within just over one week have twice discovered marijuana and cannabis being transported by a tractor trailer.
In both cases, the discovery was made at the Alma, Arkansas, weigh station located on Interstate 40 seven miles east of the Arkansas-Oklahoma border.
An officer conducting a motor carrier safety inspection early April 30 discovered 340 pounds of marijuana on board, according to Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) officials.
While conducting a safety inspection, Arkansas Highway Police had reason to believe that portions of the freight being transported were not legitimate. The driver gave consent to search the vehicle.
Upon inspection, officers discovered 340 pounds of marijuana and 2,340 units of cannabis oil with an estimated street value of $2.2 million.
The driver, 45-year-old Alan Ngo, of Fountain Valley, California, was transported to the Crawford County Detention Facility where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and no record of duty status.
The vehicle carrying the marijuana was operated by OSO Trucking Inc. of Westminster, California. According to bills of lading, it was in route from Mira Loma, California, to Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
During a safety and weight inspection of a tractor-trailer April 22, Arkansas Highway Police discovered 232 pounds of cannabis, according to ARDOT officials.
Around 9:45 a.m., Arkansas Highway Police attempted to stop a commercial vehicle at the Alma weigh station to conduct a routine vehicle safety and weight inspection. The vehicle failed to stop at which time a pursuit was initiated near mile marker 10.
Officers instructed the driver to return to the weigh station where a vehicle inspection was conducted. Officers noticed the driver appeared nervous, had discrepancies recorded in his log book, and observed trash bags in the back of the trailer that did not appear to be part of the legitimate load of produce.
After completing the inspection, officers obtained written consent from the driver to search the vehicle. The search revealed 201 bundles of cannabis weighing approximately 232 pounds. Officers confiscated the cannabis and arrested the driver and co-driver.
Both were charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. The vehicle was traveling from California to Tampa, Florida.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
