Notice to Media

Highway Police make two I-40 drug arrests during routine safety inspection stops

LITTLE ROCK (5-16) – Suspected drug traffickers lost almost 2,000 pounds of marijuana and a small amount of cocaine to the Arkansas Highway Police (AHP) during two routine vehicle safety inspections earlier this week. According to the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Director Dan Flowers, four arrests were made along two I-40 locations. Names are being withheld pending arraignment.

An AHP officer stopped a truck on I-40 East in Crawford County and detected inconsistencies in the driver’s log book. The officer also observed a passenger exit the truck while concealing a package that turned out to be two pounds of cocaine. A search of the truck’s cargo revealed 26 boxes containing 1,158 pounds of marijuana. The semitrailer loaded with broccoli and and lettuce was allegedly traveling from Salinas, CA to the Bronx, NY.

A second stop in Crittenden County resulted in the discovery of 800 pounds of marijuana after an AHP officer noted several truck violations. After the driver locked the cab and refused to complete the inspection, he was arrested and taken to the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office for obstructing government operations and violation of commercial motor vehicle safety regulations. An AHP drug detection canine alerted officers to marijuana in the cab area. With a cargo of peppers, the semitrailer was allegedly in route from Las Cruses, NM to Hunstsville, MD.

“On one of those stops, the driver used a quantity of liquid fabric softeners to mask the odor of illegal drugs,” explained AHP Chief Ron Burks. “Smugglers often use those materials, but our officers are skilled in commercial vehicle regulations and are cross-trained to identify signs of illegal activity. That trick doesn’t work on us.”

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For Further Information Contact:

Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department
10324 Interstate 30, Little Rock, AR 72209
Tel: 501-569-2000
FAX: 501-569-2400
e-mail: info@arkansashighways.com