COUNCIL BLUFFS — Two Californians were arrested here Sunday with 180 pounds of marijuana.
Pottawattamie County Sheriff's deputies arrested Odilia Diaz Pena, 35, of Mendota, Calif., and Lorena Gonzalez, 24, of Fresno, Calif., near the eight-mile marker of eastbound Interstate 80 after a traffic stop, Sheriff Jeff Danker said.
Deputies stopped the pair, who were in a 2011 Toyota Rav4 with Pena driving, for excessive speed and failure to properly display a license plate.
Deputies believed narcotics were inside the vehicle and asked for approval to search. Pena and Gonzalez consented and deputies found several suitcases that contained packages of marijuana weighing 180 pounds total, Danker said.
Sgt. Bob Christensen with the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force said the lower-grade marijuana had a street value of about $362,000.
Pena and Gonzalez were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, tax stamp violation and prohibited acts. They are both free on $10,000 bond.
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