cannabisnews.com: Feds Seize 2,700 Pounds of MJ at Truck Stop Feds Seize 2,700 Pounds of MJ at Truck Stop Posted by FoM on December 10, 1999 at 10:52:36 PT Copley News Staff Source: The Sun Police seized nearly 1 1/2 tons of marijuana after an Arizona man took off running from a Bolingbrook truck stop rather than answer questions from state troopers and federal agents. Police caught the truck driver -- Claudio Gutierrez, 24, of Queen Creek, Ariz. -- after a short foot chase from the truck stop at Interstate 55 and Route 53. Gutierrez was taken to the Will County Jail on charges of drug trafficking, possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. State troopers, along with customs and drug enforcement agents, found about 2,700 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $5 million stuffed under pallets of garlic inside Gutierrez's tractor-trailer, police said. "It's easy to load over the top of it and sometimes it will mask the smell," state police Sgt. Jeffrey Hanford said of the garlic. "It won't mask it from K-9 dogs. I've had dogs smell right through gasoline." But police didn't need drug hounds to sniff out Gutierrez's staggering stash. Troopers with the Drug Interdiction Enforcement Unit working with the federal agents said they spotted the Arizona man "acting suspiciously," state police said, waiting around the truck stop outside his rig about 5:30 p.m. Monday. "Usually they get in and drive, get in and go to sleep or go eat," Hanford said, noting that not many drivers seem to stand around in truck stops for long periods of time. When officers approached and asked questions, Hanford said, Gutierrez fled. "He just beat feet," the sergeant said. "He put on his felony shoes and took off." But Gutierrez's dash for freedom didn't last long and ended in the county jail, police said. Hanford said Gutierrez was not approached for a random check, and that his unusual behavior attracted officers' attention. Along with the millions' worth of marijuana, police seized the California-licensed tractor trailer. State police Lt. Mike Snyders said the load originated in El Paso, Texas, and was probably headed to Detroit. "Whoever was getting this was a major distributor," Hanford said. "This was a lot of dope." Published: December 10, 1999The Sun-Bolingbrook-Romeoville Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by greenfox on December 11, 1999 at 08:21:01 PT blah "Running over the same old ground, but have we found the same old fears"?"they never say to each other, 'lets smoke a marijuana ciggerette', they say... 'let's turn on,' or 'let's blast a joint'...."Saw cheech and chong yesterday. How insiring..... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by legalizeit on December 10, 1999 at 20:42:33 PT ooooh... the cops are probably proud now... they ruined someone's life and stole his tractor-trailer over a few thousand pounds of natural plant material.What now... is it a felony to stand in a truck stop?They saved the world from the demon weed! Time to have a big ceremony to honor them for their valor! Film at eleven!!darned cops should be after real criminals, not haulers of biomass. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: