Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 Source: Peoria Journal Star (IL) Copyright: 2003sPeoria Journal Star Contact: http://pjstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/338 Author: Matt Adrian $9 MILLION IN MARIJUANA INTERCEPTED Illinois State Police Find 2,897 Pounds Stashed In Semitrailer CAMBRIDGE - Illinois State Police said a truck hauling nearly $9 million of marijuana was stopped this week in the second major seizure of the drug in Henry County since December. Robert Gonzales-Delgado, 46, and Jose Lopez, 47, both of Fresno, Calif., were arrested Monday morning after troopers found 2,897 pounds of marijuana in the back of their semi on Interstate 80, police said. "I'm proud of the troopers' work," Capt. Jacki Booker, District 7 commander, said Wednesday. "It's overwhelming to see this much and the importance of that dope not getting to the streets." At 10:16 a.m. Monday, a trooper working an assigned patrol stopped the truck on I-80 near the 18-mile marker for numerous equipment violations. Booker said the truck was traveling east, but investigators have not yet determined where the shipment was heading. Delgado and Lopez are charged with possession of marijuana over 5,000 grams, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and marijuana trafficking. Each is in the Henry County Jail on $2 million. Lopez appeared Wednesday in Henry County Circuit Court, where a public defender and an interpreter were assigned to him. Lopez and Delgado are set to appear in Henry County Circuit Court on Feb. 3. In early December, state troopers arrested two University of Arizona students for allegedly transporting 87 pounds of marijuana worth more than $276,000 from Arizona to Detroit. Justin Levasseur and Max Necochea, both 22, pleaded innocent and were released on bond. Booker said the recent drug seizures did not surprise her, because I-80 is a major east-west thoroughfare with a lot of traffic. "We know that it's out there," Booker said. "It's a busy time for marijuana because of the harvest." - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D