The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office played part in a federal drug bust in which 117 lbs. of marijuana and $73,000 in cash was recovered, and it all started with the running of a stop sign and expired plates.

On December 5th of last year, Pulaski deputies were taking part in a drug checkpoint on I-44 near MO Rt. 7. They were assisted in that checkpoint by deputies from Franklin and Camden County Sheriff's Offices.

During the operation, the deputies saw a vehicle with out of state license plates run a stop sign on a nearby exit ramp. they pursued the vehicle and saw that the plates were expired. The driver was then pulled over and while speaking with the driver, deputies began to suspect that he was carrying a load of controlled substances in the car. The Pulaski County Sheriff drug dog unit responded and immediately reacted to the trunk of the vehicle. Upon searching the trunk the deputies found 117 lbs of marijuana in small bales.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) out of Springfield was called and agents responded to assist. They interviewed the suspect and decided to take part in a controlled delivery to the drugs' intended delivery location in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A Pulaski County reserve deputy accompanied the federal agents to the delivery after developing a rapport with the suspect.

The delivery went off as planned and the DEA agents in Indiana, along with other local police, executed two search warrants on suspects in Ft. Wayne.

In the end, all of the drugs ended up in agent's hands, along with around $73,000 in cash seized from the suspects. The case has been completely handed over to the DEA and all charges will be federal.

Sheriff King from Pulaski County praised his deputies, saying: "This is just another example of the work that they do at no cost to the citizens of Pulaski County." 

The Sheriff also spoke as to why the release of this information has been postponed almost a month and a half.  

"I delayed the release of this case information to the public until the DEA advised me that all parts of their operation were finished," said King. "I saw no advantage to be gained by the premature release of this information while the DEA agents were actively working on this case."