ILLINOIS STATE POLICE
Hiram Grau - Director
NEWS
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT |
| Date: November 11, 2011 | Trooper Mike Link |
| Time: 1:51 p.m. | 618.346.3524 - Office |
| 618.973.3050 - Cell | |
| mike.link@isp.state.il.us |
Illinois State Police Seize Drugs Worth Almost $360,000
Traffic stop for speeding leads to the discovery of 72 pounds of cannabis.
MADISON COUNTY, IL – Illinois State Police (ISP) District 11 stopped a white 2012 Chevrolet Malibu on November 10, 2011 at 8:56 a.m. on Interstate 70 heading eastbound near Highland, Illinois.
An ISP Trooper stopped the Chevrolet for speeding and during the conversation with the driver the Trooper observed suspicious behavior. As a precaution, an ISP K-9 was called and arrived on scene. The K-9 positively alerted to the presence of an illegal substance and upon further investigation, three black duffle bags containing 72 pounds of cannabis were located in the trunk of the car. The estimated value of the cannabis is $359,000.
The driver, 27 year old Thomas Arthur Debakker Jr., of Aptos, California was arrested for cannabis trafficking and is currently being held at Madison County jail on $200,000 bond.
“This is the third time in three months that a Trooper has made a significant drug arrest due to a simple traffic violation,” said Captain Brad Parsons. “These three traffic stops alone have led to the seizure of 815 pounds of cannabis worth almost four million dollars,” he continued.
On August 29 and again on September 24 ISP Troopers stopped vehicles for traffic violations and discovered a total of 743 pounds of cannabis worth $3.4 million.
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One Driving Fatality is One too Many and the Illinois State Police is Committed to Driving Zero Fatalities a Reality
www.isp.state.il.us / TDD: 1-800-255-3323
