The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) made a major drug bust following a roadside inspection in Henderson County earlier this month.
The drug seizure occurred on January 15 after a THP trooper pulled over a semi truck on I-40 at mile marker 101 for a traffic violation, according to a news release from the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security.
During the Level II CMV inspection, the trooper “discovered possible indicators of criminal activity” and called for additional state police to assist.
The troopers continued with with the inspection and found “discrepancies and irregularities were discovered with the driver’s shipping manifest.”
When troopers entered the trailer, they discovered a pallet that was was not listed on the original shipping manifest, though it appeared to be professionally packaged with affixed shipping labels and wrapped with cellophane.
The troopers opened 12 of the undocumented boxes and discovered 383 pounds of vacuumed sealed marijuana. Police say that they found 40 pounds of cocaine inside of a smaller box.
Truck driver David A. Seville, 25, and co-driver Michael J. Blake, 57, both from New York, were charged in state court with possession of schedule VI (marijuana) with the intent to deliver. Both men are also facing federal charges for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.