×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Traffic Stop in Ohio County Nets $1.2M Worth of Pot

A drug-sniffing K-9 officer nosed his way to a major illegal drug find, netting nearly 94 pounds of marijuana with a street value of about $1.2 million.

The drugs were found Monday in a rental vehicle that West Virginia State Police Cpl. E.M. McFarland stopped for speeding on Interstate 70 east at about 12:40 p.m. near The Highlands exit. McFarland said the black Nissan Rogue with Missouri license plates was clocked at 65 mph in the 55 mph zone, but then suddenly slowed to 45 mph in the middle lane of the Interstate, causing a traffic slow down.

Once the vehicle was stopped, McFarland approached the car and observed two large, brown duffel bags that appeared overstuffed, but not with clothing, in the rear cargo area of the vehicle.

The trooper spoke to the driver, identified as Shouqi Li. While trying to speak with the man, the passenger, Hsun Jung Chang, kept taking control of the conversation from Li and did the majority of the talking, police said. Li was asked to exit the vehicle and was issued citations for speeding and impeding the flow of traffic.

McFarland then spoke to Chang, who allegedly provided him with a fake international driver’s license with a Colorado address. Chang later admitted to being in the U.S. illegally for the past 12 years, police said. According to the report, Chang said he and Li were coming from Indiana to visit Chang’s family in New York, but could not say where they live. Chang said he was told to call when got to New York and they would tell him where to go.

K-9 Officer Zoro with the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office was brought to the scene. Li allegedly denied troopers permission to search inside the vehicle. However, Zoro’s handler then led the dog around the outside of the car. The dog indicated a positive response for the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.

The officers then began an interior search of the car. During the first minute of the search, Li reportedly approached the officers and had to be instructed to back away.

Li and Chang were arrested and charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana, transporting narcotics into the state of West Virginia and conspiracy to commit a felony against the state. Immigration officials were notified regarding additional charges against Chang.

Both were placed in the Northern Regional Jail in Moundsville.

McFarland said Tuesday he expected to obtain a search warrant for a more inclusive search of the suspects’ vehicle.

“We will be searching for anything else including possible weapons,” McFarland said.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today