Tyler

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

Paperwork that didn't appear to be in order and an alert deputy led to the arrest of a truck driver who authorities contend was hauling more than 240 pounds of marijuana in a load of lettuce.

Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith said one of his deputies noticed the Peterbilt tractor-trailer make several traffic violations and pulled it over on Interstate 20 at Farm-to-Market Road 849 shortly before 10 p.m. Thursday night.

Smith said the deputy became suspicious of the transport arrangements and began to see signs of criminal activity. "He (deputy) asked if he could search the truck and the driver gave him consent," Smith said. "The search led to the discovery of 242 pounds of marijuana hidden on a pallet behind several bins of lettuce."

"This was a great stop and it took a lot of drugs off the streets," he said.

He added the street value in Tyler was between $450 and $500 per pound, but the value increased on the East Coast where it sells for $1,000 per pound.

The marijuana was packaged in green cellophane and then wrapped with shelf liner and duct tape.

Smith said it was not clear where the driver was headed because the documents were in such disarray.

"We are still working this and are being assisted by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) so there are still things we do not know," he said. Smith said 37-year-old Billy Joe Huff, of Phoenix, Ariz., is being held on felony possession of marijuana charges and is awaiting arraignment. Smith said his office is trying to contact the company that purchased the lettuce, but if they did not make immediate arrangements it would be divided between the East Texas Food Bank and the Salvation Army.

"We would also keep some of the lettuce and feed it to the population. This should make PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) happy, because we might be serving more salads in the next few days," he said.

The quip he said was in reference to PETA sending him letters concerning another case his department is working.

BALED POT: Bales of marijuana seized by The Smith County Sheriff’s department is stacked in a conference room Friday.
((Staff Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.))