(Grand Island, NE) -- A Florida man is behind bars in Nebraska after State Patrol troopers found hundreds of pounds of marijuana hidden in ATMs and a safe in the van he was driving.
The Nebraska State Patrol says more than 400 pounds of marijuana was hidden inside ATMs, a safe and a tote. The NSP says around 10:00 Friday morning, a trooper saw a Mercedes Sprinter Van fail to signal a turn while exiting I-80 at the Giltner Interchange. Investigators say after the trooper pulled the van over, an NSP K9 detected the presence of a controlled substance inside the vehicle.
The State Patrol says troopers searched the vehicle and located a plastic tote containing packages of marijuana. There were also 14 ATMs and a large safe inside the van. The NSP says with the assistance of the Grand Island Fire Department, all 14 ATMs and the safe were opened, revealing that they were full of packages of marijuana. The total weight of the marijuana was 426 pounds. Troopers also located approximately $9,000 in a duffel bag in the front seat of the van.
The driver, 36 year old Gilbert Fernandez, of Cooper City, Florida, was arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver and possession of money during a drug violation.
(Photo by the Nebraska State Patrol)