A traffic stop on Interstate 80 yielded $1.3 million worth of marijuana according to the Wyoming Highway Patrol. Sgt. Stephen Townsend said just over 231 pounds of high grade marijuana was discovered in a semi-truck about 20 miles east of Elk Mountain during the Level 3 Commercial Vehicle Inspection.

"So once the Trooper began his inspection, some of the items listed in his log book raised the Trooper's interest," Townsend told KOWB on Monday. "Also, some items that were not on the shipper's bill of lading were in the trailer, that being the ten boxes of marijuana."

Officials say the boxes of marijuana were mixed in the trailer with a legitimate load of commercial lighting fixtures and rolls of electrical wire. Authorities also found $3,000 of cash, which will be held for six months to allow for the rightful owner to claim. Townsend said it is believed the the money came from assets that were derived from, or were used to facilitate criminal activity.

Both the driver, 29 yr-old Donald G. Cornelius from Orlando, Flo. and his co-driver, 55 yr-old Anthony M. Swift from Chicopee, Mass. are in custody facing multiple felony charges including possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and conspiracy with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Sgt. Townsend reports that the marijuana was likely bound for a location east of the State of Wyoming. The investigation is ongoing with both the Wyoming Highway Patrol and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.

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