Pubdate: Tue, 27 Feb 2007
Source: Birmingham News, The (AL)
Copyright: 2007 The Birmingham News
Contact:  http://al.com/birminghamnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/45
Author: Carol Robinson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

$3.5 MILLION IN MARIJUANA SEIZED

Jeffco Deputies Find Haul In Trailer Of Beets

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department seized 1,800 pounds of 
marijuana from a tractor trailer on Interstate 20, the second-largest 
marijuana bust in the agency's history.

The department's highway interdiction team on Sunday stopped the 
eastbound truck about 6 p.m. near Leeds, officials announced Monday.

Deputies found the marijuana - with an estimated street value of $3.5 
million - hidden in a trailer load of beets being shipped from Texas. 
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"Our drug dogs hit on it right away," said sheriff's Sgt. Randy Christian.

Jose DeLeon, 44, of Lansing, Mich., is charged with trafficking 
marijuana. He is being held without bond in the Jefferson County jail.

Christian said DeLeon, known in the drug trafficking business as a 
"mule," is not cooperating with investigators, refusing to reveal to 
whom he was delivering the drugs.

"I guess prison doesn't frighten them as bad as these thug drug 
dealers who threaten their life or their families' lives," Christian 
said. "To them, prison seems to be their best option."

Authorities in February 2006 confiscated a record 2,000 pounds of 
marijuana valued at $4.1 million, also during a traffic stop on 
Interstate 20 near Leeds.

"It's a cat-and-mouse game," Christian said. "We trap one mouse and 
there's another rat ready to take his place."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman