County highway unit seizes 54 pounds of marijuana
On Friday, Sept. 2, 2011, at approximately 6 p.m., a Detective with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Highway Interdiction Unit conducted a traffic stop on I-75 at mile marker 120 in Bonita Springs. The 2002 Ford Explorer was stopped for following too closely and failing to maintain lane. The vehicle was occupied by one male subject traveling from Tampa to Miami. During the traffic stop, the Detective noticed five large garbage bags inside the truck that were full and taped with packaging tape. The Detective could also smell an overwhelming odor of fresh marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The Detective’s narcotics certified K9 “Cole” alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle during a free air sniff.
A search of the vehicle revealed that the all of the trash bags were full with a high quality vacuum sealed marijuana. A total of 54.6 pounds of marijuana was discovered, with an estimated street value of $220,000. The marijuana was destined for distribution in the Miami area.
The driver, Alay Sosa Morales (DOB: 09/21/80), has been arrested on numerous charges related to the stop. Morales’ 2002 Ford Explorer was also seized for forfeiture proceedings.
The charges as as follows:
Trafficking in Marijuana 25 lbs or more
Possession with intent to deliver Marijuana
Keeping a motor vehicle to transport drugs
Owning a vehicle or conveyance to traffic drugs
Sosa Morales has been booked into the Lee County Jail. Inmate photos and additional information will be available on the Sheriff’s Office website at www.sheriffleefl.org under Arrest & Inmates / Search Lee County Arrests after booking.