Rawlins Police Seize 300 Pounds of Marijuana in Traffic Stop

A traffic stop made by a Rawlins police officer on Saturday led authorities to seize some 300 pounds of marijuana with an estimated value of $1.2 million.

In a statement, the Rawlins Police Department says at roughly 7:40 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, an officer stopped a U-Haul van for traveling at 38 mph in a 30-mph speed zone in the 1200 block of East Cedar Street.

Police say the driver of the U-Haul, Jesse Wright, was nervous and visibly shaking while speaking with the officer who stopped him. Wright reportedly couldn't provide a rental agreement for the vehicle and gave inconsistent stories regarding his destination and reason for travel.

The officer requested a K-9 unit, and Wright then allegedly admitted that he had marijuana in the U-Haul.

A drug dog indicated that controlled substances were inside the vehicle, and a search turned up roughly 300 pounds of marijuana in the cargo area.

Detectives with the Rawlins Police Department are working the case along with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.