Sheriff's Posse seizes 200 pounds of marijuana

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Two men who may be Mexican nationals face drug conspiracy and intent-to-deliver marijuana charges after the Genesee County Sheriff's Department Posse seized 200 pounds of marijuana from a vehicle Tuesday night.

Sheriff Robert J. Pickell said the packages of drugs were part of a larger shipment that had been driven to Holland, Mich., where an additional 1,300 pounds in a building was seized on a federal search warrant, he said.

"Together, this marijuana has a street value of $1.5 million," Pickell said today.

The 200 pounds seized Tuesday were taken from a vehicle at the rest area on I-69 in Clayton Township. The two men arrested are ages 22 and 26.

Three other suspects were arrested in connection with the marijuana seized near Holland, Pickell said.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said the men arrested here likely will face charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver more than 100 pounds and conspiracy to deliver. Both are punishable by 15 years in prison.

Pickell said the drugs came from Mexico and were brought from Texas to Holland in a semi truck. He said the Posse's investigation showed the Holland location was a central distribution point, and people came from Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit to pick up marijuana.

"Hundreds and hundreds of hours of surveillance went into this investigation," Pickell said. "It started as far back as February."

An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives who is assigned to the Posse, a drug team composed of members from various law enforcement and police departments, requested and received a search warrant from the federal court in Grand Rapids. That allowed officers to go to Holland, where they raided the building and seized the other drugs and arrested three other people.

Pickell said about 500 pounds of the marijuana had already been moved to Chicago.

He said the men arrested have refused to cooperate with authorities so far. Leyton noted that drug suspects have the option of getting a deal from his office if they provide information that helps law enforcement.

"We're flexible and they know it, and their lawyers know it," he said.

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