Notice to Media

Highway Police Officers Uncover Load of Marijuana

LITTLE ROCK (8-26) – Officers from the Arkansas Highway Police Division of the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) confiscated over 1,500 pounds of marijuana from a truck at the Lehi Weigh Station on I-40 near West Memphis Saturday, August 21.

According to Dan Flowers, AHTD Director, the discovery was made during a routine safety inspection. While checking the truck, officers uncovered the marijuana in large plastic garbage bags. The truck was loaded with military-type packaged food known as MRE’s (Military, Ready to Eat).

The truck driver, Santiago Rodriguez of Mission, Texas, was taken into custody at the scene. Rodriquez, age 24, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Records onboard the 2000-model Peterbilt truck indicated the vehicle was traveling from San Diego, California to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

"Arrests such as this again prove that the specialized training our Highway Police officers go through is worth it," Flowers said. "Safety is about much more than just traffic violations, and our safety inspections often detect potential problems with drivers, equipment, and loads."