Driver Says Car Smelled Like Pot When He Got It, Then 75 Pounds Of It Found In Trunk

A traffic stop for speeding on a rural Campbell County highway led to a much bigger discovery: 75 pounds of marijuana, more than 1,000 grams of liquid THC, and 48 ounces of THC wax hidden in the trunk of a rented gray Honda Pilot.

The driver, 22-year-old Jermaine Walker of Minnesota, told Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputy Brenden Lloyd that the car smelled like marijuana when he picked it up. Lloyd had stopped the vehicle Sunday morning on Highway 50 after clocking it going 60 in a 55 mph zone, then 54 in a 45 mph zone. Once outside the car, Walker denied that any marijuana was inside, sticking to his story that the odor predated his rental.

But the deputy noticed one of the passengers, Jahrese Adeagbo, also 22, trying to jump into the driver’s seat—apparently attempting to flee and leave his friend behind. That move failed. Lloyd’s K-9 partner, Wick, quickly indicated the presence of illegal drugs in the trunk.

Inside, deputies found a large black suitcase, a smaller red suitcase, two duffel bags, and a large trash bag. All contained vacuum-sealed packages of a green leafy substance that tested positive for marijuana. In total, the trunk held 75 pounds of pot, 537 vapes containing 2 grams of liquid THC each (1,074 grams total), and 48 ounces of THC wax.

Walker and his two passengers, Adeagbo and Keshawn Barber-Bates, also 22, now face two counts each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. If convicted on all charges, each could face up to 30 years in prison, up to $40,000 in fines, or both.

The stop itself was routine. According to the affidavit, the Honda was speeding and failed to slow down in a reduced-speed zone. Lloyd activated his lights and pulled the car over just north of Force Road. What he found in the trunk transformed a minor traffic violation into a major drug bust.

For the three young men from Minnesota, the ride home just got a lot longer.