February 12, 2001 Preble County, Ohio
Trooper arrests Anthony Nunez of Phoenix, Arizona with 97 lbs of marijuana

An Arizona man is scheduled to appear in the Preble County Court today after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers recovered nearly $1 million worth of marijuana on Interstate 70 east of the Indiana state line in Preble County yesterday. Troopers said Anthony Nunes, 35, of Phoenix, was charged with possession of marijuana, a second-degree felony.

Troopers said at 1:12 p.m. Sunday, Nunes was stopped near milepost 13 in a rented 2000 Chrysler Sebring, for a following too close violation. A drug detecting canine was summoned to the scene and alerted to the vehicle. During a search, troopers found five packaged bricks of marijuana, weighing approximately 97 pounds, under a blanket in the trunk.

Nunes was incarcerated at the Preble County Jail. If convicted of the second-degree felony, he could face up to eight years in prison, and a maximum $15,000 fine.

Source: Ohio State Police