$2 Million in Marijuana Discovered by Trooper During Traffic Stop

Holbrook, Arizona — On December 10, 2017, at around 3:15 p.m., a state trooper initiated a traffic stop on a pickup truck traveling eastbound on I-40 for speeding. After observing indicators of criminal activity and a positive alert from a canine unit, the troopers located vials of e-cigarette hash oil, marijuana, and marijuana edibles. 

The covered bed of the pickup truck contained vacuum sealed packages of approximately 54,000 e-cigarette vials holding about 27 kilograms of cannabis oil. The street value of the cannabis oil is estimated to be worth $2,000,000. Additionally, eight packages of marijuana, four packages of marijuana cigarettes, and three packages of mixed edibles – totaling 24.7 pounds were found.

The driver was identified as Amanda A. Phemister, 37, from Bacliff, TX. Phemister was arrested and booked into the Navajo County Jail on the following charges:

13-3408.A1Possession of narcotic drugs
13-3408.A2 Possession of narcotic drugs for sale
13-3408.A7 Transportation of narcotic drugs
13-3405.A1 Possession of marijuana
13-3405.A2 Possession of marijuana for sale
13-3405.A4 Transportation of marijuana for sale
13-3415.A Possession of drug paraphernalia

Major John Philpot, the Department’s Northern Region Commander said, “This seizure is an excellent example of the diligent effort by two of our troopers to keep drugs out of the hands of our community.”