The Nebraska State Patrol made three significant arrests for narcotics in several areas this week.
Troopers contacted a driver of a GMC Sierra on Tuesday at 11:20 a.m. at the Kearney Rest Area on I-80. The trooper became suspicious of criminal activity and called for a NSP K9 dog to assist. The dog detected an odor coming from inside the vehicle. Inside they found two pounds of cocaine hidden inside the center console. The driver, 31 year old Dionicio Sandoval Alvarez, of Woodbridge, Virginia, was arrested for possession of cocaine – more than 140 grams, possession with intent to deliver, and no drug tax stamp. He was lodged in Buffalo County Jail.
On Tuesday at 2:40 p.m., troopers saw a Nissan Quest speeding on I-80 near Waco. A trooper conducted a traffic stop and detected the odor of marijuana from inside the vehicle. A search turned up 222 pounds of marijuana hidden in duffel bags in the cargo area of the van. The driver, 23 year old Rigoberto Prado Barajas of Patterson, California, was arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver, and no drug tax stamp. He was lodged in York County Jail.
On Thursday at 11:45 a.m., a trooper saw a Chevrolet minivan speeding on Highway 30 in Shelton. The trooper conducted a traffic stop and an NSP K9 hit on the odor of a controlled substance inside the vehicle. A search turned up 61 pounds of marijuana, over 750 THC vape cartridges, over 100 syringes of suspected ketamine, 2 pounds of marijuana wax, 24 dosage units of LSD, over 380 packages of THC edibles, and smaller amounts of cocaine, ketamine, DMT, ecstasy, psilocybin mushrooms and chocolate bars, amphetamine, unknown pills, and multiple items of drug paraphernalia. The driver,48 year old Kelly Scheel of Salem, Oregon, was arrested for several drug offenses. He was lodged in Buffalo County Jail.