News release - Idaho State Police seized 6,701 pounds of a THC-containing substance; driver charged with illegal trafficking of marijuana

Idaho State Police seized 6,701 pounds of a THC-containing substance; driver charged with illegal trafficking of marijuana

For immediate release, Jan. 29, 2019

Contact: Tim Marsano, ISP PIO, 208.884.7122 tim.marsano@isp.idaho.gov

On Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, an Idaho State Police Trooper assigned to the ISP Commercial Vehicle Safety section conducted an inspection of a commercial tractor-trailer rig at the eastbound, East Boise Port of Entry. As part of the inspection, the trooper inspected the cargo's bill of lading, which declared the load as hemp. However, the trooper's training and experience made him suspicious that the cargo was in fact marijuana, not industrial hemp.

Upon further investigation of one of the 31 large bags contained within the Oregon-registered rig, the trooper observed a green, leafy substance which appeared to be marijuana. He used a Narcotic Identification Kit to test a sample and it tested presumptive positive for THC. Additionally, the trooper called in an ISP drug-sniffing canine team; the dog demonstrated a positive alert on the cargo.

The driver, Denis V. Palamarchuk, 36, of Portland, Oregon, was arrested and booked into the Ada County Jail on the charge of felony trafficking in marijuana in violation of Idaho Code 37-2732B(1).

Currently, a sample of the cargo - which weighed 6,701 pounds - is being tested at a laboratory for conclusive analysis.

"This is the largest Idaho State Police trafficking seizure of this type in any present-day trooper's memory," said Colonel Kedrick Wills, ISP director.
For comparison, here are the ISP seizure amounts from 2014-2018:
2014 - 319 lbs.
2015 - 458 lbs.
2016 - 507 lbs.
2017 - 1,375 lbs.
2018 - 2131 lbs.

Note: photos of the seizure available upon request - email tim.marsano@isp.idaho.gov

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