ST. FRANCIS CO., AR (abc24.com) - A lead foot and pounds of marijuana all spelled trouble for a man and woman from San Antonio busted for trafficking drugs in Arkansas.
Arkansas State Police made the arrests, now the couple is enjoying an extended stay in the St. Francis County Jail.
Robert Brown and Dominga Pesqueda are behind bars for trying to transport several pounds of marijuana. Had it not for Brown's lead foot and swerving in and out of lanes, Arkansas State Troopers would've never been pulled them over.
When they did, the arrest report says they smelled smoke. Once the suspects stepped out of the car, state troopers gave it the once over. Inside they found synthetic marijuana in the floorboard and 21 pounds of marijuana stashed in both rear doors.
According to St. Francis County Sheriff Bobby Mays, it happens more often than you think. "The drugs travel east on I-40 and the money travels west going back," he said.
Mays sees it all the time. While his drug and alcohol interdiction unit has seized plenty of drugs, cash and guns on I-40, he's not satisfied.
"It's nipping the bud. I mean we're probably getting less than one percent of what really travels that corridor."
If cops say these Texans represent the tip of the iceberg, it begs the question; how much drugs are moving across I-40?
"It would be in the billions of dollars. Billions with a b," Mays said.
Even so, this small time bust could allow State Troopers to lay the ground work for a bigger one. Arkansas State Police would not comment for that very reason.
Both Brown and Pesqueda are locked up on $50,000 bonds. They'll be in court in July.
As for what kinds of drugs move along I-40, lately the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department is seeing more meth and high grade marijuana.
