In The News

Arkansas Highway Police bust trucker with $1.3 million worth of pot

LITTLE ROCK — Officers from the Arkansas Highway Police (AHP) Division of the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) uncovered a significant shipment of illegal drugs in a commercial motor vehicle traveling along Interstate 30 this week, according to AHP Chief Ron Burks.

While conducting a safety inspection of the vehicle on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 9, 2008, on Interstate 30 near Benton, officers discovered 57 bundles of marijuana.  The drugs were found in the trailer.  The approximate total weight of the bundles was 1,300 pounds, with an estimated value of $1.3 million.

The driver was identified as Larry Kelley, Jr. of San Diego, California.  It is believed the truck was traveling from Tucson, Arizona, to Memphis, Tennessee, carrying no additional cargo.  Kelley was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and is being held on $50,000 bond at the Saline County Detention Center.  He was to be arraigned today in Saline County District Court.

Jerry Breeden of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at [email protected]