Nearly 500 lbs of marijuana and $100,000 in cash seized by DPS

On Thursday, April, 29, 2010 at about 12:30 a.m. a DPS Commercial Vehicle Highway Patrol Officer stopped a commercial vehicle traveling north on Interstate 17 just north of Phoenix for a equipment violation and safety inspection. With the assistance of a Phoenix Police narcotics canine, officers located 481 pounds of marijuana in new luggage within the sleeper berth of the truck. The bulk street value of the marijuana is worth about $264,550 locally. The driver, Tommy Lee Pinkins, 35, Moultrie, Georgia, was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on the charges of possession and transportation of marijuana for sale and illegal control of an enterprise. The drugs and commercial tractor-trailer were seized.

On Saturday, April, 24, 2010, at about 6:30 p.m., a DPS Highway Patrol Officer stopped a 2008 Honda Civic traveling west on Interstate 40 at mile post 173 just east of Williams, Ariz., for a traffic violation. After a probable cause search of the vehicle a small amount of hydroponic marijuana with $8,000 in cash was located, the remaining cash was located in the driver’s suit case. A total of $92, 820 in U.S Currency was located and seized. The driver, Jordan Albert, 26, of Pennsylvania, was arrested and booked into the Coconino County Jail on charges of money laundering, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. The cash, drugs and vehicle were seized.