LEXINGTON, N.C. -- A routine traffic stopped Thursday netted marijuana with an estimated street value of $80,000, the Davidson County Sheriff's Office said.
Investigators said at about 2:15 p.m. Thursday, members of the Interstate Criminal Enforcement Unit stopped a 2009 Chrysler van on Interstate 85 North and mile marker 97 for following too close. The vehicle was driven by Ismail Abdul Ali, 30, of Charlotte, officers said.
After receiving permission to search the van, officers found two cardboard boxes concealed within the vehicle that smelled of marijuana, investigators said. A K-9 searched and alerted officers to the presence of drugs.
Officers found approximately 17 pounds of marijuana wrapped in plastic wrap and contained in vacuum-sealed bags.
Ali was arrested and placed in the Davidson County jail with bail set at $250,000. He faces felony charges of trafficking marijuana by possession, trafficking marijuana by transportation, trafficking marijuana by manufacture, and maintaining a vehicle to store a controlled substance. He also faces a misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession charge.
Investigators said at about 2:15 p.m. Thursday, members of the Interstate Criminal Enforcement Unit stopped a 2009 Chrysler van on Interstate 85 North and mile marker 97 for following too close. The vehicle was driven by Ismail Abdul Ali, 30, of Charlotte, officers said.
After receiving permission to search the van, officers found two cardboard boxes concealed within the vehicle that smelled of marijuana, investigators said. A K-9 searched and alerted officers to the presence of drugs.
Officers found approximately 17 pounds of marijuana wrapped in plastic wrap and contained in vacuum-sealed bags.
Ali was arrested and placed in the Davidson County jail with bail set at $250,000. He faces felony charges of trafficking marijuana by possession, trafficking marijuana by transportation, trafficking marijuana by manufacture, and maintaining a vehicle to store a controlled substance. He also faces a misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession charge.