COALVILLE, Utah, Oct. 28, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — An Interstate 80 driver stopped Sunday morning by a Utah Highway Patrol trooper for speeding ended up in the Summit County jail after a search of his vehicle turned up bags containing about 83 pounds of raw marijuana.
Also found were six large vacuum bags containing psilocybin mushrooms, and a bag containing 4,000 MDMA pills (also known as ecstasy), says an arrest document filed by the trooper.
About 200 THC cartridges (a substance derived from marijuana) and about three dozen packages of edible THC products were also taken into evidence.
Duane Joseph Lee, identified by his California driver license, was stopped because he was going 76 mph in a 65 mph lane on I-80, his affidavit says.
“When I made contact with the driver, I noticed the odor of raw marijuana coming from the vehicle,” the trooper’s affidavit for Lee says. “Upon the detection of the odor of raw marijuana, I had the driver exit the vehicle and asked if he had a valid medical marijuana card.
“The driver stated that he did not have a valid medical marijuana card. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted and a duffle bag containing bulk marijuana was located. After locating the duffle bag containing bulk marijuana, the driver was placed under arrest and the vehicle was transported to the Section 7 Utah Highway Patrol Office for a more thorough search.”
Besides the contraband items mentioned above, “multiple pre-rolled marijuana joints were also located, one of which had burn residue.”
The State Bureau of Investigation conducted an interview and took custody of the evidence.
Lee was booked into the Summit County Jail for investigation of:
- Two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, listed as a third-degree felony
- Three counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, listed as a third-degree felony
- Possession of a controlled substance, marijuana/spice, a class B misdemeanor
- Use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor
- Speeding, an infraction
Lee was ordered held without bail.
