NEWBURY — A Maine man is being held on $10,000 after a piece of heads-up police work on a routine traffic stop led to the discovery of 12 pounds of marijuana in a car traveling north on Interstate 95 late Sunday night.
Corey Oliver, 26, of Limington, Maine, pled not guilty yesterday in Newburyport District Court to charges of possession of marijuana to distribute, possession of marijuana and a marked lanes violation.
Trooper Michael Crowley pulled over Oliver on the highway at 11:35 p.m. Sunday night after witnessing his 2008 Subaru Impreza weaving in and out of the northbound travel lanes. According to a statement from the Massachusetts State Police, Oliver committed numerous motor vehicle infractions.
During the course of the traffic stop, Crowley discovered the marijuana. Sgt. Matthew Murray, a state police spokesman, would not release where the marijuana was stored or how it was found due to the ongoing investigation. Trooper Gary Mozuch and his K-9, Jacco, were also involved with the arrest.
Murray did say it was the alertness of Crowley that ultimately led to the bust.
"It was good police work," Murray said. "It started as a motor vehicle infraction, and we ended up being able to take some drugs off the street."
According to the state police spokesman, the street value of the marijuana is about $18,000, or $1,500 per pound, though he noted many variables are involved in the value, from the distance it travels to the source to how it's grown.
A first offense for possession of a Class D substance, which includes marijuana, with intent to distribute, carries a maximum two-year jail sentence and $5,000 fine.
Oliver is due back in court Feb. 3 for a pretrial hearing.
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