Torsten Posted November 13, 2005 http://bend.com/news/ar_view.php?ar_id=23715 CENTRAL POINT - Oregon State Police (OSP) took a California man into custody Tuesday evening during a traffic stop on Interstate 5 near Rogue River when a State Trooper discovered approximately 40 pounds of Ecstasy. This Ecstasy seizure is believed to be the largest ever discovered during a traffic stop in Oregon and possibly one of the largest ever in the State. On November 8, at approximately 6:40 p.m., a 2001 Toyota four door sedan with California plates was stopped by OSP Senior Trooper Pam Gaither for traveling 80 mph southbound on Interstate 5 near milepost 47. The driver was identified as Phu Binh Tran, 25, from Milpitas, California, and he was the lone occupant of the vehicle. During the stop, a consent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of several packages in a large duffel bag located in the trunk. Each package contained small tablet size pills. A preliminary field test indicated the tablets were Ecstasy. Tran was taken into custody and lodged in Jackson County Jail for Manufacturing, Possession, and Distribution of a Controlled Substance – Schedule I. Bail is set at $500,000. An arraignment in Jackson County Circuit Court is scheduled on November 9th at 1:30 p.m. Trooper Greg Costanzo and his drug detection canine, Cookie, as well as OSP and DEA drug enforcement detectives provided assistance during the stop. Oregon State Police Drug Enforcement Section and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration consider the Ecstasy seizure significant in any region of the country and believed it may be the largest in an Oregon traffic stop. The Ecstasy seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $1.2 million. Prior to this arrest and seizure, the largest seizure of the drug in an Oregon traffic stop is believed to have occurred in February 2005 when an OSP Sergeant seized approximately 6.5 pounds of Ecstasy on Interstate 5 near Salem. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Ecstasy (also known as MDMA) is a synthetic, psychoactive drug chemically similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline. Other street names include Adam, XTC, hug, beans, and love drug. Once used primarily at dance clubs, raves, and college scenes, it is being used in a number of other social settings. Ecstasy can be dangerous to health and, on rare occasions, lethal. Oregon State Police Troopers have made several notable drug seizures during traffic stops in 2005. Most of these seizures have occurred along Interstate 5, which is recognized as one of the top five corridors for transporting illegal drugs in the country. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Legba Posted November 14, 2005 their had to be at least ONE american that took the remake of "the dukes of hazard" seriously :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
