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IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE
District 3 Patrol 700 S. Stratford Dr., Meridian ID 83642
(208) 846-7550
Fax (208) 846-7520
For Immediate Release: 02/13/12 2:50 PM
Contact: Sgt. John Burke
On February 10, 2012, at approximately 7:45 P.M., Idaho State Police troopers stopped a black 1996 Lexus, displaying California license plates, eastbound on I-84, near milepost 4 in Payette County, for a traffic violation. The driver was identified by a California driver's license as Jason T. Houston (36 YOA) of Bakersfield, CA.
During the traffic stop, troopers detected the odor of marijuana and called for a Bureau of Land Management drug detection K-9, which subsequently alerted to the Lexus. A passenger in the vehicle, identified by an Oregon driver's license as Kevin L. Bennett (54 YOA) of Glendale, Oregon, told troopers he was a medical marijuana card holder (of Oregon) and admitted to being in possession of a small amount of marijuana.
Troopers located a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle, but also found a large duffle bag which contained seven bags of marijuana weighing approximately one pound each. Bennett and Houston were both arrested for Felony Drug Trafficking (marijuana) and were booked into the Payette County Jail. The weight of the seized marijuana was approximately 7 pounds, with an estimated value of $17,500.00. Bennett and Houston were reportedly destined for Pocatello, ID.
In the last six months, Idaho State Police District 3 troopers have investigated fourteen (14) cases of Felony Marijuana Drug Trafficking. In all cases at least one pound of marijuana was seized, with the largest being nearly 69 pounds. All of those cases involved vehicles traveling from the medical marijuana states of California, Oregon, and Washington, into Idaho.
Please direct any questions to ISP Sgt. John Burke, 884-7360. Thank you.
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