Troopers seized hundreds of pounds of drugs, guns on I-40

State police haul in bad guys during November

By Ralph Hardin

news@theeveningtimes.com

Interstate 40 is well-known as one of the busiest interstate highways in the U.S. It is used by over-the-road truck drivers, long-distance commuters, vacationers and motorists of all kinds.

It’s also a frequent path used by drug dealers, and Arkansas State Troopers were busy in November takingg the opportunity to get a lot of dangerous criminals and contraband out of circulation.

ASP Troopers seized more than 680 pounds of illegal narcotics and 13 illegal firearms from individuals trafficking contraband last month along the 285-mile stretch of I-40 between Fort Smith and West Memphis.

On November 18, around 6:15 p.m., Troopers stopped a Ford Fusion on I-40 eastbound near London. A search of the vehicle resulted in the finding and seizure of 93 pounds of illegal marijuana, 10 pounds of THC wax, 1,000 vape cartridges, more than $21,000 in cash, and a Glock Pistol. Troopers arrested the driver, Graham Toth, 24, of Los Angeles, and transported him to the Pope County Detention Center, where he was booked on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Simultaneous Possession of Drugs and Firearms. Toth told investigators he was traveling from Los Angeles to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Also on November 18, Troopers stopped a Chevrolet Equinox on I-40 in Pope County and discovered 21 pounds of individually wrapped packages of illegal marijuana. The driver, Richard Juritsch, 34, of Charlotte, N.C., was arrested and transported to the Pope County Detention Center, where he was booked on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On Monday, November 4, around 4:45 p.m., Troopers stopped a Toyota Camry for a traffic violation on I-40 eastbound near Morrilton. During a search of the vehicle, they discovered multiple trash bags in the trunk containing 124 pounds of illegal marijuana in vacuum-sealed bundles. The driver, Shouwei Jiang, 42, from New York, was arrested and taken to the Conway County Detention Center. He was booked on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Jiang informed investigators that he was traveling from Oklahoma to New York.

On November 11, Troopers stopped a Nissan Sentra in Pope County. A search found a large duffel bag containing 24 one-pound vacuum-sealed bags of illegal marijuana in the trunk of the vehicle. Emon Washington, 23, of Marietta, Ga., was arrested and transported to the Pope County Detention Center, charged with felony Possession with Intent to Deliver and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Washington told investigators he was traveling from Oklahoma City to Little Rock.

Photo courtesy of Arkansas State Police