Traffic stop yields 180 pounds of marijuana

KANAB — A routine traffic stop in this small Utah town uncovered about 180 pounds of marijuana that was bound for the Salt Lake area, police said on Tuesday.

Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Cameron Roden said a UHP trooper pulled over a northbound Dodge Durango Friday morning around 2 a.m. along U.S. 89 in Kanab after the driver swerved left of center. During the traffic stop, the trooper discovered the truck had no insurance.

The officer noticed the edges of several packages under a blanket in the back of the Durango as he approached the driver, Roden said. During the stop, he determined the driver had a suspended license and the passenger had three warrants for his arrest out of the Salt Lake area.

The trooper arrested both individuals, Roden said. During vehicle inventory, 17 packages were found under the blanket. Each was wrapped in contact paper with the weight written on each package totalling 180 pounds.

Cameron said a drug sniffing dog was called out and indicated the packages contained marijuana.

Both men were booked into Kanab County Jail for investigation of drug charges, Roden said. He also said the load was bound for the Salt Lake area.

— Jens Dana