July 11, 2007  Jasper County, Missouri
State Trooper finds $600,000 in a Peterbilt truck and trailer on Interstate 44

On July 11, 2007, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper stopped a westbound tractor-trailer unit on I-44 in Jasper County for a traffic violation. The stop and subsequent investigation resulted in the United States Drug Enforcement Administration seizing a large amount of cash totaling $600,000.

At approximately 11:08 a.m., a 1997 Peterbilt truck tractor towing a box type trailer was stopped near the 11 mile-marker for following another vehicle too closely. During the course of the stop the trooper became suspicious of the driver and co-driver's travel based upon their stated itinerary prompting the trooper to ask for consent to search the vehicle, which was granted. The vehicle was driven to the Highway Patrol Service Center in Carthage, Mo., where troopers and commercial vehicle enforcement officers conducted the search. Eleven individually packaged bundles of U.S. currency were located concealed in the passenger side air cleaner of the truck tractor. No illegal substances or weapons were found.

The investigation was turned over to officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration who subsequently seized the currency.

Source: Missouri State Highway Patrol