NEWS RELEASE

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

Nebraska Troopers Help Bust Illinois
Marijuana Growing Operation

(Lincoln, NE) – A traffic stop on I-80 near Lincoln, Nebraska led to the seizure of several marijuana plants and the discovery of a marijuana growing operation in Dekalb, Illinois.  

Around 8:17 p.m., Thursday, February 28, 2008, a Trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol stopped a westbound white, 1998 Mercury Sable, with Illinois plates for speeding on Interstate-80, near the 56th Street exit, in Lancaster County.  The trooper received consent to search the vehicle. The search led to the seizure of four marijuana plants, marijuana less than one ounce, and drug paraphernalia.  Further investigation revealed pictures on a digital camera of what appeared to be an indoor marijuana growing operation containing approximately 25 to 30 marijuana plants.  The information suggested the illegal growing operation was contained in a residence in Dekalb, Illinois.

Contact was made with the Illinois State Police North Central Drug Task force and a search warrant was obtained for the residence in Dekalb, Illinois.   The search warrant executed by the Illinois State Police, Friday, February 29, 2008, led to the seizure of a marijuana growing operation in a home in Dekalb, consisting of approximately 200 marijuana plants.

“This is a good example of how a traffic stop can lead to the discovery of criminal activity,” said Traffic Services Major Russell Stanczyk.  “These officers used their investigative skills to shut down further drug trafficking.  We’d like to thank the Illinois authorities for their help in dismantling this marijuana growing operation.”

The driver of the vehicle 24-year-old Daniel Ward of Sycamore, Illinois and a passenger in the vehicle 21-year-old Will Blaser, of Dekalb, Illinois, were both lodged in the Lancaster County Jail on charges of Harvesting Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana less than an Ounce and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.    The pair is also awaiting extradition to Illinois, on charges related to the marijuana growing operation.

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