Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Thursday, June 11, 2009 3:57 pm

Rudolf Kratky, left, and David J. Milan

More than two pounds of hashish and six pounds of high-grade marijuana were confiscated Wednesday morning from two travelers headed to Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, a sheriff’s sergeant said.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration describes hashish as consisting of the THC-rich resinous material of the cannabis (marijuana) plant, which is collected, dried, and then compressed into a variety of forms.

Pieces are then broken off, placed in pipes, and smoked. The Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the main sources of hashish. The THC content of hashish that reached the United States, where demand is limited, averaged about 5 percent in the 1990s.

Sgt. Lee Young of the Interstate Crime Enforcement division stopped driver Rudolph V. Kratky, 52, of Melrose Park, Ill., for driving offenses on Interstate 24 east of Murfreesboro.

As Young approached the 2005 Freightliner motor home, he reported he “could smell raw and burnt marijuana.” Kratky told Young he had smoked marijuana earlier.

“How much do you have?” Young asked.

“Probably more than I should,” Kratky replied.

Kratky yelled to his passenger, “We’re going to jail,” Young said.

In the search, ICE deputies recovered two pounds of hashish with a street value of $1,000 and about six pounds of high-quality hydroponic marijuana with a value of more than $6,000, he said. They confiscated 15 marijuana pipes, a set of electronic scales, four unknown pills, $360 cash and the motor home valued between $150,000 and $200,000.

Kratky and passenger David J. Milan, 53, of Melrose Park, Ill.,were charged with felony possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

They used the motor home as their residence, he said.

Kratky and Milan were en route to Bonnaroo to sell gems, exotic rocks and rings “and marijuana,” Young said.

Two dogs in the motor home were placed for care with the county’s Pet Adoption and Welfare Services.

The men were booked into Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, then released on bond. They planned to stop by PAWS and pick up their dogs before continuing to Bonnaroo.

Hearings for the pair were set Aug. 13 in General Sessions Court.