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http://www.omniture.com --> Email Story to a Friend June 6, 2006 Oregon State Police drug dog Beepers keeps his nose on task while his handler, Detective Dave Beck, is being interviewed by TV crews. About a half dozen large garbage bags of marijuana seized Sunday afternoon were displayed during a press conference Monday morning. (Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell) Traffic stop nabs drugs By anita burke Mail Tribune A routine traffic stop by Oregon State Police Sunday afternoon on Interstate 5 yielded more than 200 pounds of marijuana when a drug-sniffing dog alerted authorities to the drug's presence. Police said the seizure of 216 pounds of compressed marijuana stuffed in nine garbage bags is one of the largest ever made during a traffic stop. Officials estimated the value of the seized drugs at $150,000 to $160,000. "This is the largest in this area, but it's just a small portion of what moves up I-5 daily," Senior Trooper Bill Matson said. Trooper Brandon Boice stopped a white 2006 Honda Ridgeline for unspecified traffic violations while it was northbound up Blackwell Hill near milepost 37 on the freeway at 2:40 p.m. on Sunday, police records show. He asked the driver for permission to search the vehicle, but was denied, Matson said. The suspicious trooper summoned Matson and Detective Dave Beck with OSP drug dog Beepers to the roadside. A Supreme Court ruling allows police dogs to sniff the outside of a vehicle when a motorist is lawfully stopped for a traffic violation. Walking around the outside of the pickup, Beepers crawled under the rear of the vehicle and signaled that drugs were present. His reaction gave officers probable cause to search the vehicle, Matson said. They found nine black garbage bags sealed with duct tape, some stowed in large duffle bags, in the covered bed of the truck. "We could not have made this bust without the dog," Beck said. State police seized the truck and the drugs. The driver, a 31-year-old man from Vancouver, Wash., was interviewed and released, although charges are pending, Matson said. The investigation is ongoing and police didn't release the driver's name, in order to prevent compromising the case, he said. Investigators suspect the marijuana was from Mexico or California and was to be delivered for sale north of the area, Matson said. Police are collecting evidence, including fingerprints from packaging, he said. Troopers have made a growing number of drug seizures during traffic stops in the past year and a half as the agency has added to its pack of drug-detecting dogs, state police said. Beepers, stationed in Central Point, was the only drug dog working for OSP in 2004, but is now one of five active drug dogs around the state. The 9-year-old Labrador has worked detecting drugs for six and a half years, Beck said. The largest amount of marijuana found during a traffic stop was 323 pounds seized near Salem in April 2005, OSP reported. Two men were arrested in that case. Notable recent drug seizures made by troopers from OSP's Central Point office during traffic stops include approximately 6 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and about $6,000 cash found in a car in September 2005, 40 pounds of Ecstasy in November 2005 and approximately 81/2 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and about $12,000 cash in January 2006. Drug-detecting dog Cookie, a yellow lab who joined the force in early 2005, assisted with all those busts. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] . Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Casino Reviews