NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEBRASKA STATE PATROL
www.nsp.state.ne.us
Contact:  Deb Collins 402-479-4985
March 3, 2008   

Marijuana & Cocaine Seized during
Weekend Enforcements

(Lincoln, NE) – 585 motorists were contacted during a special enforcement effort held over the weekend.   The enforcement took place during a 24-hour period beginning Friday, February 29, 2008 through Saturday, March 1, 2008, along Interstate 80 from Lincoln to Grand Island. Troopers worked overtime hours participating in saturation patrols in an effort to remove impaired drivers from our state’s roadways.

Nearly 124 lbs. of marijuana and 3.5 lbs of cocaine were seized during the enforcement efforts.  The bulk of the marijuana came during a stop in Seward County.  A 2007 silver Jeep with Illinois plates was stopped shortly after 11:00 a.m. Saturday, for failing to stop at a stop sign at the Utica Spur.  A Nebraska State Patrol canine indicated the odor of drugs coming from the vehicle.   A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 103.8 lbs. of marijuana located in several duffel bags in the cargo area of the Jeep.  The marijuana has an estimated street value of $104,000.00.   The driver of the vehicle 43-year-old David Eckrich of Diamondhead, Mississippi was lodged in the Seward County Jail on a charge of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Deliver.

A stop for a traffic violation in Hamilton County, led to the seizure of three-and-a-half pounds of Cocaine. Around 9:30 p.m. Friday, February 29, 2008, a Trooper stopped a four-door Toyota near mm 324 in Hamilton County.  The Trooper was given consent to search the vehicle.  The search led to the seizure of the cocaine located in the passenger side air bag.  The driver of the vehicle, 39-year-old Antonio Mendoza, of San Jose, California was lodged in the Hamilton County Jail on a charge of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Deliver.

Nearly one-ounce of crystal meth was seized during a traffic stop in Seward County. A Trooper stopped a 2001 Pontiac Sunfire with Michigan plates near mm 379.  A Nebraska State Patrol Canine indicated the odor of drugs coming from the vehicle.   A search of the car led to the seizure of 28 grams of crystal meth.  The driver of the car, 40-year-old Ronald Prokupek of Columbus, Nebraska and a passenger in the vehicle 40-year-old Christine McGlothlen also of Columbus, were lodged in the Seward County Jail each on a charge of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver.

During the 24-hour special enforcement citations and warnings were also issued for a variety of offenses to include Speeding (192), Driving Under Suspension (7), Violation of a Traffic Control Device (35), Following too Closely (12), and Failure to Signal (52).   One person was arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, four juveniles were cited for being Minors in Possession of Alcohol and 33 people were cited for Possession of Marijuana less than One Ounce.

The special enforcement efforts were paid for thanks in part to a grant from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program (HIDTA).  HIDTA enhances and coordinates drug control efforts among local, state, and Federal Law Enforcement.  Nebraska is a member of the Midwest Region of HIDTA to include, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, North and South Dakota.

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