65 Pounds of Pot Confiscated from Traffic Stop Outside Effingham

An estimated 65 pounds of cannabis was seized as the result of a traffic stop on the interstate outside Effingham early Wednesday morning.

(REYES CASTELLANOS)

Just before 3am, an Effingham County sheriff's deputy, while on routine patrol, observed a SUV crossing the outside fog line and the center line of the eastbound passing lane of I-70 as it was approaching I-57, just south of Effingham. The deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle to check on the condition of the driver.

(JOSE BARAJAS)

Upon speaking to the driver and doing an initial investigation, the deputy asked for consent to search the vehicle and the driver granted his request. A search was conducted and 50 foil-lined and vacuum-sealed bags of cannabis were located inside the vehicle.

(CHRISTIAN RIVAS-GARCIA)

The driver of the vehicle, 44-year-old Reyes Castellanos from Farmersville, California and two other occupants of the vehicle, 22-year-old Jose Barajas and 26-year-old Christian Rivas-Garcia, both from Pihuamo Jal, Mexico were all arrested. Each was arrested on counts of possession of more than 5,000 grams of cannabis, possession of the cannabis with intent to deliver, and cannabis trafficking. Barajas was also arrested on a count of possession of a controlled substance, that being cocaine.

The Effingham County Sheriff's Department is still actively investigating the seizure.