April 02, 2007   Preble County, Ohio
850 pounds of marijuana in a tractor trailer seized by Ohio Troopers

Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized 850 pounds of marijuana, valued at $1.9 million, during a traffic stop Friday on Interstate 70 in Preble County. The suspect will be arraigned in Eaton Municipal Court today on felony drug trafficking charges associated with the case.

The driver, Fernando Quezada, 33, of Palmhurst, TX, was charged with second-degree felony trafficking marijuana, and fifth-degree felony possession of criminal tools. Quezada was also cited for a marked lanes violation.

Troopers stopped the 1999 Freightliner truck pulling a 1996 Fruehauf trailer, both displaying Texas registration, for numerous lane violations eastbound on Interstate 70 near milepost 6 in Preble County at 12:42 p.m. Friday. An Ohio State Highway Patrol drug-detecting canine alerted to the vehicle, and a probable cause search revealed 850 pounds of marijuana located in the trailer.

Quezada was incarcerated in the Preble County Jail. If convicted, he could face up to nine years in prison and up to a $17,500 fine.

Source: Nebraska State Patrol