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TOOELE — A minor traffic stop turned into a large drug bust for state troopers on Tuesday.
A vehicle heading east on I-80 in Tooele County was pulled over for failing to signal properly while quickly getting off at an exit. An agent with the State Bureau of Investigation detected "the odor of marijuana" coming from the vehicle while speaking to the driver and his passenger, according to a police booking affidavit.
A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of "multiple duffle bags (that) were found to contain a total of 207 vacuum sealed bags" of marijuana weighing a total of 240 pounds, the affidavit states.
"The driver and passenger both explained they were helping the other one out and driving the car to Chicago," police wrote.
Francisco Contreras, 59, and Mariano Yovanne Torres-Meza, 32, were arrested for investigation of possession of 100 pounds of marijuana or greater, and drug possession with intent to distribute.
