Truck Carrying $76 Million Worth Of Marijuana Pulled Over For Running Red Light
When transporting contraband, it’s probably a good idea to obey basic traffic rules.
That’s perhaps one lesson for two men who were pulled over in Bakersfield, Calif., for running a red light. It turned out that their U-Haul truck was reportedly carrying about three tons of marijuana with an estimated street value of $76 million according to law enforcement authorities there.
The Bakersfield cops reportedly smelled pot when they made the traffic stop early last Wednesday morning. A police canine called to the scene confirmed the officers suspicions. “Officers cut the lock off, lifted the door and stared at 252 bales of pot, each about 1-foot-by-1-foot-by-2-foot in size, wrapped in tape and plastic, and ready for sale. Police estimated the 6,732 pounds of pot had a street value of more than $76.4 million,” the Bakersfield Californian reported.
“The street value of the seized marijuana is estimated to be $76 million based on a sale price of $25 a gram… Low-grade marijuana typically sells for $5 to $10, but higher grade marijuana can go for as much as $40 a gram,” a Bakersfield police official told NBC News Los Angeles.
According to that official, this was the largest pot bust in the Bakersfield area in recent memory. Bakersfield officers promptly destroyed the seized marijuana, he added. Authorities have yet to determine where the pot was grown or originated, specifically where it was headed, or whether the incident was cartel-related.
The moving violation turned out to be a bad move for the suspects in the arrest. Police charged the truck driver and the passenger, both in their 20s, with suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale, transportation of marijuana, and conspiracy. The two men were booked into the Kern County Jail. They entered a plea of not guilty last Friday and are due back in court on July 23.
Watch a local news report about the Bakersfield, Calif., $76 million marijuana seizure after the driver blew a red light:
