HIGHWAYS YIELDING POT BUSTS

Troopers: Highway patrol in recent days has confiscated hundreds of pounds
of marijuana

Since early last week, Kansas Highway Patrol troopers have seized more than
1,500 pounds of marijuana during vehicle stops, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Second Lt. John Eichkorn said that while large drug seizures by troopers
are common, recent vehicle stops have been particularly prolific.

Eichkorn said drug seizures on Kansas highways have increased because the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks brought heightened security at airports, causing
traffickers to use highways more. Authorities also are paying closer
attention to the motorists they stop.

"All law enforcement across Kansas really has done a good job of being
alert to what's happening in vehicles when we stop them," Eichkorn said.

He said his agency's most recent marijuana seizure came in Shawnee County
at about 7:20 p.m. Monday when troopers stopped a 1994 Land Rover for a
traffic violation on Interstate 70 near S.W. Valencia Road. The driver gave
troopers consent to search his car, where they found 40 pounds of marijuana
hidden in luggage inside.

Shawnee County Jail records indicated Sergio J. Hevia, 36, of Santa Clara,
Calif., was booked in connection with one felony count each of possessing a
depressant drug with intent to sell and failure to pay the Kansas drug tax.

Eichkorn said troopers since early last week also have made seizures of:

* 60 pounds of cocaine Tuesday afternoon from a vehicle stopped for
speeding on I-70, about three miles west of Colby. One person was arrested.

* 40 pounds of marijuana from a car stopped Monday afternoon on I-70 near
S.W. Valencia Road. Three people were arrested.

* 30 pounds of marijuana from a Ford truck stopped Sunday on Interstate 35
in Johnson County. Two people were arrested.

* 69 pounds of marijuana from a car stopped Sunday on I-70, about 40 miles
west of Topeka. Troopers arrested two people. Thirteen pounds of the drug
were found in a karaoke stereo.

* 205 pounds of marijuana from a vehicle stopped Friday on I-70, about six
miles west of Colby. One person was arrested.

* 357.5 pounds of marijuana from a flatbed trailer stopped Jan. 29 on I-70,
about 30 miles west of Topeka. Three people were arrested.

* 68 pounds of marijuana from a vehicle stopped Jan. 29 on I-70, about 50
miles west of Topeka. Two people were arrested.

* 219 pounds of marijuana from a vehicle stopped Jan. 28 on I-70, about 20
miles east of Colby. Two people were arrested.

* 278 pounds of marijuana from a vehicle stopped Jan. 27 on I-70 in Ellis
County. Two people were arrested.

* 199 pounds of marijuana from a vehicle stopped Jan. 27 on I-70, about 10
miles west of Colby. Two people were arrested.