By Pat Culverhouse
Out-of-state drivers passing through north Louisiana on Interstate 20 found the going a little rough when a pair of separate traffic stops by Louisiana State Police troopers netted three individuals on drug charges.
In a Monday (Oct. 1) incident, a Lawrenceville, GA man was booked into Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center after trooper Isaac Davis found approximately three pounds of marijuana inside his vehicle following a stop for a violation.
Joshua Meredith Johnson, 37, is now looking at a charge of possession with intent to distribute CDS Sch. I (marijuana) in addition to his traffic offense. Bond has not been set.
According to an incident report, after the state trooper reportedly smelled a strong odor of marijuana inside the vehicle, Johnson admitted there was a small amount of the substance in the car’s center console. During a probable cause search, three large vacuum sealed bags of marijuana were located in the cooler behind the driver’s seat.
Roughly three hours later, trooper Cade Talbert reportedly discovered a large quantity of marijuana inside a vehicle he stopped on I-20 for a traffic infraction around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.
After observing suspicious activity inside, the vehicle’s driver, 27-year-old Qiming Wu of Monterey Park, CA, was searched and a small container of cocaine reportedly was found in his pocket.
A further search of the vehicle reportedly revealed approximately 87 pounds of marijuana inside three duffle bags located in the rear cargo area.
Wu and a passenger in the vehicle, 39-year-old Min Li of Castle Rock, CO, were taken to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center where both are charged with possession of CDS Sch. I (marijuana) with intent to distribute and attempt/conspiracy to distribute (under RS 40:966). Wu is also charged with possession of CDS Sch. II (cocaine).
Total bond for Wu has been set at $127,500. Li’s total bond is $125,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.