(Undated) -- Four people are behind bars following two separate marijuana busts in Nebraska.
The Nebraska State Patrol says during the busts, more than 230 pounds of marijuana and other controlled substances were found.
The state patrol says around 3:00 Monday afternoon, a trooper observed a Dodge Ram fail to signal a turn as it was exiting I-80 at mile marker 231. NSP says the trooper pulled the truck over, and during the stop an NSP K-9 detected the presence of a controlled substance inside the pickup.
Investigators say a search of the vehicle uncovered 88 pounds of marijuana, concealed in luggage in the bed of the truck. Troopers also located THC pills, THC vape cartridges, THC wax and THC gummies in the cab of the pickup.
The driver, 21 year old John Valencia Lopez, and passengers 23 year old Jesse Jarquin and 21 year old Evelin Morales Ramos, all from Georgia, were each arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver and no drug tax stamp.
The state patrol says the next day, around 11:30 AM, another trooper pulled over a Chevrolet Silverado for a registration issue. Investigators say during the stop on I-80 near North Platte, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. Upon a search of that vehicle, 146 pounds of marijuana was found in the bed of the pickup, as well as a small amount of methamphetamine in the cab of the pickup.
The driver, 51 year old Brian Nixon, of Kokomo, Indiana, was arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and no drug tax stamp.
(Photo by the Nebraska State Patrol)