On Saturday, June 13, 2009, Deputies from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office seized approximately 615 pounds of marijuana.
Sgt Mike Sweat was patrolling Interstate 75 for speeders and aggressive drivers. Sgt Swear observed a 2001 Fleetwood Motor Coach perform and illegal lane change. Sgt Sweat conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle on southbound I-75 at mile marker 432 at approximately 2:30 p.m. Corporal Keith Jackson and his K-9 partner also assisted in the stop. The K-9 alerted that there were potentially illegal narcotics in the vehicle. Base on the K-9’s alert on the vehicle, a search was conducted.
Deputies discovered two hidden compartments within the Motor Coach. These compartments contained approximately 615 pounds of marijuana. It was determined that the vehicle was being driven from Houston, Tx to Orlando, FL. The three occupants were arrested for trafficking in marijuana and are being held in the Columbia County Detention Facility.
The estimated street value of the marijuana is over $300,000.00.
Arrested were:
Cail Bennett, 7/23/1970
7613 Glen Manor Rd.
Houston, Tx
Rodney Barnes, 11/6/1968
9603 Homestead Rd
Houston, TX
George White, 8/27/1961
4406 Engelford Drive
Houston, TX
