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November 11, 2009

Deputies seize marijuana

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Cleveland County deputies stopped a vehicle on Interstate 35 Tuesday and seized 50 "bricks" of marijuana.

Sheriff Joe Lester said Deputy Don Hunter was on routine patrol Tuesday morning when he stopped a Ford SUV in the area of I-35 and Indian Hills Road.

"He smelled what he thought was freshly cut marijuana and asked for assistance," Lester said.

He said a Cleveland County K9 unit responded to the scene and assisted Hunter with the traffic stop. The K9 "Bruno" alerted on the vehicle and a search of the vehicle was initiated. Hunter and Deputy James Bolling found what appeared to be plastic bags stuffed behind the rear seats, which all contained bricks of marijuana.

"By the time they were done with the search, they had found five bags filled with 10 bricks apiece," Lester said.

He said the street value of the seized marijuana is estimated between $50,000 and $60,000.

Lester said deputies arrested Valentin D. Tapia, 35, of Wichita, Kan., and Francisco A. Reyes, 29, no address given, on complaints of trafficking marijuana, maintaining a vehicle for the sale of illegal drugs and possession of controlled dangerous substance without a tax stamp.

"Thanks to the work of my deputies, and one of our three K9s, these drugs will not find their way into the hands of our young people in Cleveland County," Lester said.

Tapia and Reyes were transported to the Cleveland County Detention Center. According to court records, prosecutors filed felony drug charges against both men Tuesday afternoon in Cleveland County District Court.

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