Deputy uncovers 30 pounds of marijuana in Henry County traffic stop

MT. PLEASANT — An Oklahoma woman was arrested this week after a Henry County Sheriff’s deputy found 30 pounds of marijuana in her car.

On Monday, at about 7:30 p.m., Henry County Deputy Logan Bass received a report of a red Chevrolet Cruze with an Oklahoma license plate driving erratically on Highway 34.

“The reporting party described the vehicle to be traveling all over the highway hitting the gravel on both sides,” Bass wrote in the criminal complaint.

Bass reported he stopped the vehicle after he saw it swerving and traveling 74 mph in a 55 mph zone on Highway 218.

After speaking with the driver — identified as Cynthia Ruiz, 33, of Bixby, Oklahoma — Bass reported “an odor of marijuana” inside the vehicle.

“When asked, Cynthia made admissions to possibly having marijuana in the vehicle. Cynthia also stated she was traveling from Oklahoma to Minnesota,” Bass wrote in the criminal complaint.

Bass searched the car and found approximately 30 pounds of marijuana in a black suitcase and a black garbage bag, vacuum sealed in bags of approximately half a kilogram each.

Henry County Sheriff Rich McNamee said 30 pounds is a noteworthy amount.

“Doesn’t happen very often,” he said. “We have gotten larger seizures before but this is a bigger one.”

A further search of Ruiz’s personal belongings turned up a used glass pipe and a tube containing a THC cartridge with 80 percent raw THC distillate.

Ruiz has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and failure to affix drug tax stamp, both class D felonies; and possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors. She also was cited for speeding and improper use of lanes.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com