I-40 Traffic Stop leads to Drug Bust

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May 22, 2023

By News Director Jared Atha

A large amount of marijuana was found by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol earlier this month during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 40 in Custer County.

As a result, a Chickasha man was arrested and charged.

According to court records, 30-year-old Wei Zhang was pulled over on the afternoon of May 4 for allegedly speeding and following to closely near mile marker 65.

A probable cause affidavit showed that during the traffic stop the trooper would notice a large amount of black trash bags in the cargo area of the vehicle and noticed a strong odor of what he suspected to be raw marijuana coming from the car.

The trooper said that an expired drivers license from New York was given to him along with proof of insurance. After speaking with the driver the trooper conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and discovered 110 vacuum sealed packages of suspected marijuana inside the black trash bags. In total, it was estimated the marijuana weighed 110 pounds.

The driver would tell troopers that he was traveling from Erick to his home in Chickasha.

Troopers placed Zhang under arrest for trafficking in illegal drugs – a felony, and was booked into the Custer County Detention Center.

Bond for Zhang was set at $100,000.

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