By Scott Harvey
Greenville – Five individuals are arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop Tuesday in Greenville.
The stop took place near the 97 mile marker along Interstate 30 at approximately 2:30 a.m. Tuesday..
According to a statement from the Greenville Police Department, Officer Adam Phillips stopped a vehicle for a defective tail light. Phillips contacted the driver and noticed a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle.
Phillips received permission to search the car and discovered three suitcases, each containing cellophane wrapped bundles of what was believed to be marijuana, weighing over 14 pounds.
The driver and the four passengers in the vehicle, identified as Christopher Gatewood, Lakita Cantrell, Demetrius Walker, Keith Prather and Tyrone Cantrell, were taken into custody and later transferred to the Hunt County Jail.
It was at least the third traffic stop in less than a month during which officers with the Greenville Police Department were involved and during which significant amounts of marijuana were confiscated.
Since Jan. 18, officers have recovered more than 345 pounds of marijuana from vehicles traveling along Interstate 30.