A routine traffic stop on Interstate 40 in Lonoke County led to the seizure of nearly 250 pounds of illegal marijuana on Christmas Eve. Arkansas State Police (ASP) Troopers pulled over a white 2021 Ford F150 near the 165-mile marker around 6:50 p.m. on December 24, 2024, after observing a traffic violation.
Upon stopping the vehicle, the troopers conducted a search of the pickup’s bed, where they discovered six large suitcases containing a total of 207 vacuum-sealed packages of marijuana. The packages, each weighing approximately 1.2 pounds, totaled 248 pounds of the illegal drug.
The driver of the vehicle, 53-year-old Xiong Ren of Chickasha, Oklahoma, was arrested at the scene. He was taken to the Lonoke County Detention Center and booked on felony charges, including Possession with Intent to Deliver and Unauthorized Use of Another Persons Property to Facilitate a Crime.
During questioning, Ren told investigators he was en route to Wisconsin to spend Christmas when he was stopped.
The investigation into the origin and intended destination of the drugs is ongoing.
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