Two Apprehended with 14 Pounds of Marijuana Buds

Two suspects, believed to be from California, were arrested Sept. 21 on Interstate 40 by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and were found to have 14 pounds of marijuana buds, vacuum packed in one-pound food saver bags. Itzel Alvarez, 19, (no home town listed) and Carlos Orlando Conteras, 25 (no home town listed) were charged Sept. 24 in Sequoyah County District Court, Sallisaw. Both were charged with unlawful possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute. Alvarez also faces a misdemeanor charge of driving without a license, since her license was suspended by the State of California. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol report, Alvarez was driving and Contreras was a passenger in a 2003 Suburban, and the pair were traveling east on Interstate 40 at 78 miles per hour in a 70 miles per hour zone. The pair were stopped at the 299 mile marker. The OHP reported Alvarez could not find her license and was placed in the officer's car. The officer noticed Contreras was "breathing very heavy and (his) heart was pounding very hard." When the OHP K9 unit alerted on the vehicle, a probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted and the 14 pounds of marijuana were found in the spare tire mount under the vehicle. Both suspects were arrested and booked into the county jail. The OHP found later that the vehicle belonged to Contreras. Alvarez's application for a court-appointed attorney was approved Tuesday. Contreras is to be arraigned Wednesday. By Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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