$25,000 worth of marijuana seized in Bootheel traffic stop

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- A routine traffic stop and a police officer with a sharp sense of smell resulted in the discovery of $25,000 worth of marijuana.

At 12:30 p.m. Monday, Caruthersville police stopped a vehicle for improper registration. As officers made contact with the driver, they noticed an odor consistent with that of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

The K-9 unit from the Missouri State Highway Patrol was called to the scene and the dog made a positive "hit" on the trunk area of the vehicle, according to a news release issued by Caruthersville City Marshal Chris Riggs.

"A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a large amount of marijuana, which had been pressed into the shape of a large brick," according to Riggs, who estimated the weight at 25 pounds and the "street" value at approximately $25,000.

As the 29-year-old driver from Caruthersville was arrested, officers also discovered a substance believed to be Ecstasy in his possession, along with $5,000. The items were seized as evidence and the vehicle impounded.

The suspect, whose name was not released by authorities, is being held in the Pemiscot County Jail pending the formal filing of charges. He was expected to be charged Tuesday with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and possession of a controlled substance (Ecstasy).

Assisting the Caruthersville Police in the arrest were the Bootheel Drug Task Force, Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Around 4 p.m. Monday, officers along with agents from the Task Force and ATF served a search warrant at a storage shed at A+ Storage in Caruthersville.

During their search they found and seized approximately $31,000 in cash which was in plastic bags, along with about a half pound of marijuana.