News 12 January 28, 2010

CRAWFORDVILLE, Ga.---A routine traffic stop quickly turns into a jackpot for Taliaferro County investigators, after they find 120 pounds of marijuana.

The bust came Wednesday night at mile marker 149 on Interstate 20. Law enforcement says drug trafficking along I-20 is part of a growing problem that starts in Atlanta.

I-20, it's become a super highway for drug smugglers.

Wednesday night investigators pulled these two (Jamie Gardner and Steve Harper) over for a window tint violation, next thing they know, they're pulling out handcuffs.

"He walked up to the car and he smelled marijauna. He said, y'all got any marijuana in your vehicle and he said yeah, I just have my friend a quarter bag of marijuana that we were smoking," says Taliaferro County Sheriff Marc Richards.

But in the trunk, officers hit gold. 120 pounds of marijuana on it's way to Augusta, with a street value of at least $120,000.

"100 pounds is a lot for somebody to be carrying down I-20," says Sheriff Richards.

And it's not just the drugs off the street, the dealer's money goes to a good cause too.

"A portion of the 911 center and law enforcement center was purchased with drug seizure money," adds Sheriff Richards.

They say the more cars moving on I-20 means the more drugs moving through it.

"What they do is they ride to Atlanta and pick it up and then the quickest and easiest way is to hit I-20 and go to Augusta or Columbia, S.C.

Investigators say Atlanta has become a major player when it comes to moving drugs. "Atlanta's like a hub, that's where they get the dope and they can wholesale it there," says Sheriff Richards.

All of it rolling right through Taliaferro County. And they're putting a stop to it.

"Marijuana is a gateway drug and it opens more problems to cocaine, meth. It's just a gateway that opens up to other things in life," says Sheriff Richards.

Investigators say many drug dealers choose to Atlanta because you can buy it in bulk there for as low as $800 dollars a pound, then turn around and sell it here in Augusta or Columbia for as high as $2,000 a pound.

Sheriff Marc Richards says they have specific officers who just focus on arresting drug dealers and traffickers.