Lisa Marchesoni
Posted: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:27 pm

Almost $150,000 worth of high quality, hydroponically grown marijuana was confiscated last week by sheriff’s Interstate Crime Enforcement deputies, a lieutenant said.

ICE Sgt. Shawn Applegate stopped a 34-year-old driver on a traffic violation Tuesday on Interstate 24, said ICE Lt. Chris Haynes. The driver’s license was suspended. His car was searched as part of the arrest.

“Sgt. Applegate and myself found four duffel bags containing approximately 35 pounds of high quality, hydroponically grown marijuana,” Haynes said.

Value is $4,000 per pound of the high-quality marijuana. As a comparison, Mexican grade marijuana sells for about $1,000 a pound.

Through the investigation, ICE deputies learned the marijuana came from Oakland, Calif., with delivery scheduled in Tampa, Fla.

“The subject decided he wanted to cooperate with ourselves and the Tampa Police Department’ narcotics unit and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office,” Haynes said.

Haynes contacted Tampa Police Department’s narcotics unit and the Hillsborough, County (Fla.,) Sheriff’s Office to work on the investigation together. The three law enforcement agencies cooperated with each other, “which resulted in two search warrants being done that resulted in the seizure of $47,000 in U.S. currency, two handguns and a Lincoln Navigator valued at about $30,000.

The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and Tampa Police will split the proceeds of the cash and vehicle.

Three more people in Tampa were charged. Charges are pending against the original driver. Their names are being withheld as part of the ongoing investigation.

“This is one small drug organization that was dismantled after making one traffic stop and shows what an impact proactive law enforcement can make,” Haynes said. “It ended up being a real good deal.”