By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
An alert trooper and an extremely nervous driver led
to a big marijuana bust on Interstate-15 near Nephi on
Thursday.
The Utah Highway Patrol trooper found a total of 98
pounds of marijuana, with an estimated street value of
$313,000, during the traffic stop.
The Utah Highway Patrol's Criminal Interdiction Team
was patrolling the Nephi area Thursday morning when a
trooper noticed a car swerving in and out of a lane of
travel, UHP Lt. Fred Swain said. The trooper stopped the car
because of the poor driving pattern.
But it was the attitude of the driver that triggered
further suspicions.
"The subject was just shaking nervously, obviously
under tremendous anxiety. This was registering off the
nervous scale," Swain said.
The driver, a 26-year-old male from Salt Lake City,
allegedly did not have proof of registration or insurance
and was acting suspiciously, Swain said.
The trooper asked permission to search the vehicle and
discovered a compartment between the back seat and the
trunk.
He also found hidden compartments in the floor, the
side panels and the area where the spare tire is normally
kept. The compartments were being used to conceal the
marijuana bricks.
"The compartments were well constructed and only a
trained officer would have noticed them," said Swain.
Swain said investigators learned the man had picked up
the drugs in Phoenix and was taking them to Salt Lake
City.
He said it is believed the man was hired to transport
the drugs and was neither a main buyer nor seller.
"Troopers found a two-way radio in the car leading
them to believe that there was a second vehicle traveling
with the 26-year old male," Swain said.
He said detectives hope information from the bust will
lead to future arrests.
The man was being held in the Juab County Jail in
Nephi.
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