Nearly $2M worth of pot found in trailer

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — An estimated $1.9 million worth of marijuana was confiscated by Gallup Port of Entry officials this week, marking the largest seizure of illegal drugs this year for the entity.

A trucker, 34-year-old Ernest Chapman, of Morrow, Ga., was arrested in connection with the find and federal charges are pending consideration by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

"Because of the quantity, it becomes a federal charge," Lt. Richard Baca said.

Baca said port of entry officers located 1,295 pounds of marijuana hidden inside a false compartment located in the trailer portion of a semi that displayed Georgia license plates.

"This is the biggest seizure we've made this year," Baca said.

During a random commercial vehicle inspection, port officials noticed discrepancies in the heights of the exterior wall, which measured 53 feet, and the interior wall, which measured about 50 feet.

The 3-foot variance led officers to investigate the trailer further for hidden substances.

Baca said Chapman did not provide officers with consent to search the inside of the trailer, so they called McKinley County Sheriff's deputy John Trevor-Smith and his K-9 to assist in the search.

Once the dog alerted officers of a potential find, probable cause existed and officers located the bundles of marijuana within about an hour by drilling a hole into the interior wall.

"Oh they (the marijuana bundles) were hidden extremely well," Baca said. "... It was a good combined effort between our officers and the McKinley County Sheriff's department."

This marks the fourth seizure of the year for the Gallup Port of Entry.

— Contact reporter Leslie Wood at (505) 870-1745 or (505) 863-6811 ext. 222.