MEMPHIS — Two Florida men hauling produce were arrested Friday morning when a search of their refrigerated truck revealed 218 pounds of marijuana in duct-taped bundles mixed in with the vegetables, said Tim Helldorfer, director of the West Tennessee Violent Crime Drug Task Force.
Officers stopped the westbound 18-wheel tractor trailer for speeding around 8:30 a.m. Friday on Interstate 40 near Arlington and became suspicious when the two men said they were coming from McAllen, Texas, and heading for Miami, Fla., to sell the produce.
After the men gave oral and written consent to search the truck, WTVCDTF officers conducted a search and discovered 11 duct-taped bundles of marijuana mixed in with broccoli, peppers and other produce in the refrigerated trailer.
Helldorfer said the marijuana has a street value of approximately $400,000.
The truckers were identified as Jorge Armenteros, 49, of Boca Raton, Fla., and Jose Castillo, 31, of Hialeah, Fla.
Both men are in the Shelby County Jail charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver.
The arrests were made by task force Special Agent in Charge Buddy Bell and Asst. Special Agent in Charge Darryl Harrison.
The WTVCDTF includes more 40 law enforcement officers assigned from various law enforcement agencies in three West Tennessee judicial districts. The judicial districts include the 28th Judicial District (Crockett, Gibson, and Haywood Counties), the 29th (Dyer and Lake Counties), and the 30th (Shelby County). The Shelby County D.A.’s Office administers the task force.
