Drug bust yields 20 lbs. marijuana

Marijuana with a street value of $280,000 was seized by local police Wednesday during a traffic stop near Union City.
Kevin J. Baldwin of Owensboro, Ky., was arrested in connection with the seizure and was arraigned Thursday afternoon on a charge of possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance for resale.
Obion County General Sessions Judge Jimmy Smith set bond at $20,000 and scheduled a preliminary hearing for next Thursday at 10 a.m.
Union City Police Chief Joe Garner said the incident occurred about 2 p.m. Wednesday when a blue Nissan Altima with Kentucky tags — occupied by Baldwin — was stopped for a traffic violation by Union City police officer Scott Watkins, who is assigned to the 27th Judicial District Drug Task Force Interdiction Unit.
At the time, Baldwin was traveling north on U.S. Highway 51, just east of Union City.
Kodiak, a drug dog assigned to Watkins, was utilized during the stop and alerted on the vehicle. The car was searched and 20 pounds of hydroponic marijuana was found packaged in one-pound bags in two black suitcases in the trunk of the car.
Baldwin was also in possession of $3,037 cash, police reported.
The money and drugs were seized by police and the car was released to the rental company which owns it.
Garner said the seized marijuana has a street value of $280,000 and he explained hydroponic marijuana is of greater value than regular home-grown marijuana. Sources said hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil and hydroponic marijuana involves its growth in a method where plant roots are partially suspended in water.

Published in The Messenger 1.21.11

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