Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

Local News

Discussion

July 11, 2012

Troopers recover $1.3 million worth of marijuana in McDowell; police make traffic stop by helicopter

Staff Writer Bluefield Daily Telegraph

Welch — State police in McDowell County have recovered $1.3 million worth of marijuana, and another $286,000 worth of pot has been found in Mercer County, officials said today.

Two people in the Davy area of McDowell County, who spotted an overhead helicopter, actually pulled marijuana plants out of the ground, placed them in a vehicle, and attempted to flee the area. The two drove the vehicle into a railroad tunnel in the Twin Branch area in hopes of evading the helicopter. But the vehicle was stopped as it exited the tunnel and headed toward Roderfield.

“The chopper landed in the road, and actually performed a traffic stop,” Trooper C.M. Wade, who is coordinating the regional marijuana eradication campaign, said. “It was quite an exciting day.”

Wade said the street value of the plants recovered in McDowell County was $1,317,000. Another $286,000 worth of marijuana was recovered in Mercer County. “I just want to give props to the DNR, and the county has really helped us out, the sheriff’s department has really helped us out,” Wade said. “And I really appreciate the people calling in and helping us and giving us information.”

For more on this story, and other news, see Thursday’s edition of the Daily Telegraph.

Text Only
Local News
National and World

Newspaper Deivery Routes Available
Sister Newspapers' News

Facebook
Local News Videos