POLICE SEIZE MARIJUANA IN JOHNSON CITY, ABINGDON

JOHNSON CITY - What started out as a small marijuana bust in Johnson
County has since led to major recoveries of the drug in both Johnson
City and Abingdon, Va.

The investigation into possible drug activity started when the
Johnson County Sheriff's Department provided information to the 1st
Judicial District Drug Task Force that led to the successful
execution of a search warrant there.

During that investigation, the DTF received information that a 26
year old man would be traveling through Johnson City to conduct
marijuana transactions in early October.

On Oct. 5, officers spotted the man traveling east on Interstate 26
around Exit 42, where he reportedly committed several traffic
violations and officers subsequently stopped him.

During the traffic stop, a police K9 alerted to an odor of narcotics
coming from the trunk area of the car, where officers then found
three duffel bags containing approximately 60 pounds of marijuana
packaged for resale, police said.

DTF agents charged the man with possession of Schedule VI drugs for resale.

Based on information gathered by the DTF, Abingdon Police Department,
Washington County (Va.) Sheriff's Department and Drug Enforcement
Administration in Southwest Virginia, a search warrant was later
executed at the man's residence in Abingdon. There, authorities
recovered an additional 49 pounds of marijuana, firearms and
approximately $60,000 in cash, police said.

The DEA has taken over the case against the man, who now faces
multiple federal charges.

DTF officials, however, remain involved in the drug investigation.

"We've still got a lot of investigating to finish out on," said DTF
Director Matthew Thompson, who added that more arrests are expected
in the case. "This is far from done."