STOP NETS 31 POUNDS OF POT

Lorain – An Illinois man is facing felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized 31 pounds of BC Bud marijuana, valued at more than $124,000 during a traffic stop yesterday on the Ohio Turnpike in Amherst Township in Lorain County.

Troopers stopped a 2009 Toyota Prius with New York registration for speed and marked lanes violations westbound on the Ohio Turnpike near milepost 149 at approximately 4:23 p.m. Monday. Troopers observed criminal indicators and a Patrol drug-sniffing canine alerted to the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed 31 pounds of BC Bud marijuana in the trunk.

The driver, Jose Duran, 32, of Aurora, Ill., was charged with possession of drugs, a third-degree felony. Duran was incarcerated in the Lorain County Jail. If convicted, he could face up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

BC Bud marijuana is one of the most potent strains of cannabis, which is usually cultivated in British Columbia. It has a THC content of 30 percent as compared to only four percent in traditional marijuana.

Through August 2009, the Patrol seized more than 3 million grams of illegal narcotics valued at approximately $19.3 million. In 2008, the Patrol seized more than 5.2 million grams of illegal narcotics valued at approximately $47.5 million.