K9 alerts on 150 pounds of marijuana

Texas Highway patrol officers stopped a Florida couple traveling in a motor home near Kilgore on Interstate 20 Tuesday for traffic violation enforcement and subsequently seized 150 pounds of marijuana.

Troopers interviewed the couple and, after probable cause was developed to suspect the couple was involved in criminal activity, called the Gregg County Sheriff 's Department drug dog and handler to the scene.

Sheriff 's Investigator Tracy Freeman and K-9 Luctor responded. When Freeman and Luctor searched the motor home, the dog alerted the officers to the presence of narcotics within the motor home.

A subsequent search of the motor home by the troopers and Freeman revealed packaged marijuana stored under the bed.

As a result, 150 pounds of marijuana was seized.

The couple was arrested and both were transported to Gregg County Jail, charged by probable cause affidavits with the offense of possession of marijuana over 50 pounds less than 2000 pounds, a second degree felony.

"This is a significant drug seizure," Sheriff Maxey Cerliano, said. "Luctor has certainly performed well for us".

Luctor has been in service for five years, according to Lieutenant Mike Claxton.

Freeman is assigned to criminal narcotics interdiction and has made numerous seizures with Luctor, Claxton said.

Troopers involved in Tuesday's arrests were Jacob Muehlstein and Brandon Smith. They also seized an undisclosed amount of currency from the couple.

The couple remains in the Gregg County jail and is scheduled to attend an arraignment hearing today.