NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEBRASKA STATE PATROL
www.nsp.state.ne.us
Contact: Deb Collins 402-479-4985
August 24, 2009

138 lbs of Marijuana Seized in
Two Separate Traffic Stops

(Grand Island, NE)- Two separate traffic stops over the weekend in Hamilton County led to the seizure of 138 lbs. of marijuana and the arrests of four individuals.

Shortly after 1:00 p.m., Saturday, August 22, 2009 a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol Troop C Headquarters- Grand Island stopped a Volvo S8, eastbound on Interstate 80 near the Giltner, Nebraska Interchange.   An NSP canine alerted to the odor of drugs coming from the rear of the vehicle.   A probable cause search led to the seizure of 133 lbs. of marijuana.  The marijuana was located in duffel bags in the trunk of the vehicle.  

The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, 33-year-old Jamie Day (FM), of Astoria, New York was lodged in the Hamilton County Jail on a charge of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Deliver.

A traffic stop near the same location at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, August 21, 2009 resulted in the seizure of 5 lbs. of marijuana and the arrest of the vehicle’s three occupants.  The trooper stopped an eastbound 2007, Mitsubishi Montero, for an inoperable taillight.  A probable cause search of the vehicle led to seizure of 5 lbs. of marijuana.  The marijuana packaged in 13 individual bags was located in the rear of the vehicle.   A .40 caliber semi automatic handgun was also located in a backpack. 

The driver of the vehicle 22-year-old Nicholas Smith of Mariposa, California, and two passengers in the vehicle, 26-year-old Kristopher Vernard, of Gladstone, Missouri, and 27-year-old Eric Varvel, of Kansas City, Missouri were all lodged in the Hamilton County Jail, each on charges of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Deliver and Possession of a Weapon During a Drug Transaction.   Varvel was also jailed on a charge of Carrying a Concealed Weapon.

###