75 pounds of marijuana seized in I-70 Putnam County traffic stop

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

CLOVERDALE -- Seventy-five pounds of marijuana, with an estimated street value of more than $300,000, was confiscated Wednesday after a traffic stop on Interstate 70 in southwestern Putnam County, Indiana State Police at Putnamville reported.

At approximately 10:39 a.m. Wednesday, an Indiana State Police trooper from the Putnamville Post, stopped a 2017 Toyota Avalon for speeding on eastbound I-70 near the 35-mile marker, six miles west of Cloverdale.

Marijuana confiscated in I-70 bust.
Thomas Lee King

During subsequent conversation with the driver, the trooper developed information that led to a search of the vehicle.

And during that search, found on the rear seat was one large duffel bag containing suspected packaged marijuana. In the trunk were three other large duffel bags containing additional suspected packaged marijuana and vials of suspected marijuana oil.

The driver, 21-year-old Thomas Lee King of Colorado Springs, Colo., was taken into custody and preliminarily charged with possession of marijuana over 10 pounds (a Level 5 felony); dealing marijuana over 10 pounds (a Level 5 felony); possession of a controlled substance (felony); and operating while intoxicated -- refusal (misdemeanor).

King, who was lodged in the Putnam County Jail, was reportedly traveling from Colorado to Ohio.

In addition to the approximately 75 pounds of suspected marijuana confiscated, also seized in the vehicle search were 300 vials of suspected marijuana oil, and one suspected oxycontin narcotic pain killer tablet.

Estimated total street value of the marijuana is $337,000 and the estimated total street value of the marijuana oil is $16,500.

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