Nearly $250,000 of Marijuana Found During I-70 Traffic Stop

ACROSS INDIANA -- What started as a Monday morning traffic violation stop near Greenfield turned into a massive marijuana bust, according to Indiana State Police officials. ISP Sergeant John Perrine, Indiana State Police Public Information Officer for Central Indiana, says one of their troopers pulled over a 2017 Ford Expedition for a traffic violation on I-70 near Hancock County around 11 a.m. That's when the trooper discovered more than 78 pounds of marijuana inside the SUV which was driven by Christian Elie, 51 of Elbert, Colorado alongside passenger Austin Johnson, 42, of Indianapolis.

Both men were arrested and transported to the Hancock County Jail on preliminary drug charges. ISP adds that the marijuana in the SUV had an estimated street value of around $250,000.

With April 20 just a few days away, it's known that people across Indiana and the U.S. are planning to celebrate marijuana use on this day, though you should know police are always on the lookout, especially Indiana State Police. Sgt. Perrine posted a hilarious but also serious tweet Monday afternoon showing a recent marijuana bust, or should I say a recent, massive marijuana bust.

Sgt. Perrine tweeted "Somebody’s 4/20 celebration is canceled #WeWillCatchYou" to his Twitter account Monday, showing the back of a vehicle loaded with several packages filled with the drug.

April 20, better known as 4/20, is the day associated with celebrating marijuana use as the term is rumored to have come into use after a few teenagers used it to refer to their after-school toking sessions.

Patch will continue updating this piece.

More: @ISPIndianapolis

Photo credit: Indiana State Police