FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2000
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755
HIGHWAY PATROL SEIZES MORE THAN 400 POUNDS
OF MARIJUANA ON I-85 IN GREENVILLE COUNTY
COLUMBIA – South Carolina Department of Public Safety Director B. Boykin Rose today announced that the Highway Patrol seized more than 400 pounds of marijuana overnight in two traffic stops along I-85 in Greenville County. The combined street value of the seized marijuana is about $874,000.
"Operation S.T.O.P., our special enforcement initiative along I-85, is primarily intended to save lives by reducing collisions," Rose said. "But it is also allowing us to save lives by detecting and seizing illegal drugs transported on our highways before they can be sold in our neighborhoods."
Around 9:20 p.m. last night, a 1998 Honda driven by Bolivar Baldovinos of Charlotte, North Carolina, was stopped in the northbound lanes of I-85 near the 46 mile marker. Troopers from the Highway Patrol ACE Team, which focuses on drug interdiction, pulled the car over for driving without headlights. After talking with Baldovinos, the troopers searched the car and found a black trash bag containing 51 pounds of marijuana in the trunk. Baldovinos was arrested and charged with trafficking marijuana.
Four hours later, around 1:20 a.m. today, a 1994 Dodge driven by Pedro Arce Carmona of High Point, North Carolina, was stopped in the northbound lanes of I-85 near the 47 mile marker. ACE Team troopers pulled the car over for driving in the wrong lane. After questioning Carmona, the troopers searched the vehicle and found 12 blocks of marijuana, which weighed a total of 386 pounds, wrapped in plastic and wrapping paper in the trunk. Carmona was arrested and charged with conspiracy and trafficking marijuana.
They also stopped a second vehicle that was apparently travelling with Carmona. They pulled over the 1993 Volkswagen for following too closely. Both the driver, Andres R. Rodriguez of Graham, North Carolina, and the passenger, Alfredo Torres of Burlington, North Carolina, were arrested and charged with conspiracy and trafficking marijuana.
One man is being held in the Greenville County jail and the other three are being detained in the Spartanburg County jail.
These marijuana seizures occurred in the same area of I-85 where ACE Team troopers seized almost 1,000 pounds of cocaine in late April. The two troopers responsible for that drug seizure, which was one of the largest in state history, were also involved in these seizures.
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