I-12 Traffic Stop Uncovers 51 lbs. of Marijuana

A traffic stop on Interstate 12 yielded a large quantity of marijuana and cash Sunday (November 14), 2021 night.

At Approximately 9 p.m. Sunday, a deputy with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Highway Enforcement Unit conducted a traffic stop on a red 2015 Chevrolet Silverado with a Texas license plate, on Interstate 12 Eastbound just west of the Highway 1088 exit. The driver and sole occupant of the truck, Jorge Valeriano (age 20 and of Ceres, Calif.), told the deputy he was traveling from Gatesville, Texas, to Birmingham, Ala., to find a job as an ironworker.  However, a consensual search of the vehicle uncovered 46 vacuum sealed bags containing approximately 51 pounds of suspected marijuana concealed inside of two suitcases and one plastic container within the bed of the truck. Valeriano was also found to be in possession of $1,457 believed to be proceeds of illegal narcotics transactions.  

He reportedly admitted to having knowledge of the suspected marijuana and was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on one count of Following Too Close, one count of  Driving Left of Center, one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I CDS (marijuana), and one count of Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses.         

“Too often criminals attempt to use our local highways and interstates as passageways to transport illegal drugs,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “We will not tolerate individuals bringing drugs into our community. If you are found to be transporting drugs into or through St. Tammany Parish, you will be arrested.”