Lonoke, AR – A traffic stop on Interstate 40 in Lonoke County led to one of Arkansas’s largest drug seizures this year, with more than 1,900 pounds of illegal substances taken off the highway Monday morning.
According to Arkansas State Police, the stop happened around 10:30 a.m. Monday near the 173-mile marker eastbound, when troopers pulled over a tractor-trailer for a traffic violation. During a search of the trailer, officers reportedly found four pallets loaded with cardboard boxes containing approximately 960 pounds of illegal marijuana, 1,000 pounds of THC products, and 27 pounds of synthetic marijuana.
Troopers also located a firearm inside the sleeper compartment of the semi’s cab.
According to investigators, the driver — identified as Tobias Xavier Taylor, 37, of Richmond, Virginia — was taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Lonoke County Detention Center. Taylor allegedly possessed the drugs and firearm during the traffic stop and is now facing several felony charges.
State Police said the charges include Trafficking a Controlled Substance, Simultaneous Possession of Drugs and Firearms, Unauthorized Use of Another Person’s Property to Facilitate Certain Crimes, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Additional charges may be considered as the investigation continues.
The stop adds to a series of major drug interceptions along I-40, a corridor frequently used for cross-country shipping traffic. Authorities have not yet released information about the trailer’s intended destination.
Residents traveling the corridor Monday reported heavier law-enforcement activity in the area as troopers processed the scene.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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