I-80 drug bust one of largest in recent years

A Nebraska State Trooper received a big surprise during what he first thought was a routine traffic stop last Thursday: a vehicle stuffed with around $500,000 worth of marijuana.

"It's one of the bigger [finds] we've made in a year or two," said Lieutenant Jamey Balthazor of the Nebraska State Patrol.

Nebraska State Trooper XXXX Reed was traveling south on L17C, which links Interstate 80 with highway 30 west of Sidney, when he spotted a grey vehicle parked on the wrong side of the road. Reed was working with other troopers at a nearby drug checkpoint , for which they had set up signs along the Interstate.

When Reed approached the Chevy Traverse he noticed a man, who he later identified as Gabriel Nowak, urinating on the side of the road. Another man, later identified as Kenneth Turner, waited in the passenger seat of the vehicle. Reed advised Nowak that he shouldn't relieve himself in public, according to the arrest affidavit.

While checking Nowak's documents, it was determined that the vehicle was a rental and that the driver, 30 year old Nowak of Finleyville, Penn. did not possess a valid driver's license. While approaching Turner, 23, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to advise him to stay in the car while he dealt with Nowak, Reed detected the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.

At that point Reed asked Turner if there was anything in the SUV that he should know about, and Turner allegedly admitted that there was marijuana in the car. Turner then reportedly confessed that there were over 100 pounds of the illegal substance in the vehicle.

According to arrest records, Turner claimed that all the bags in the car belonged to him personally. Reed found four duffle bags full of what was later confirmed to be marijuana in the back of the car.

When Reed asked Nowak if he knew anything about marijuana in the SUV, Nowak reportedly said that he didn't. He later allegedly admitted that he knew that Turner had some amount of marijuana in the vehicle but wasn't sure how much.

Later, Reed chose one bag from each duffle to test for THC and they all tested positive. The entire weight was estimated at 127 pounds, with one additional pound of hashish.

Nowak then reportedly also surrendered a small bag of cocaine to Trooper XXXXX Arendt, who had arrived to assist Reed.

This bust was one of the most significant drug discoveries made in Cheyenne County in quite a while.

"Its the largest we're aware of in recent history," Deputy Cheyenne County attorney Jonathon Stellar reported.

The street value of the drugs seized depends on the quality level of the marijuana, Balthazor said. The cost of the drugs found during this bust represented many, many thousands of dollars, Balthazor estimated.

Stellar explained that it is hard to confirm the exact street value of the marijuana seized because it sells for different amounts depending upon the state. He guessed that the 127 pounds seized in this case would sell for in the ballpark of $500,000.

Balthazor said he was not aware that this case was being further investigated in relation to a larger drug trafficking ring but admitted that he wouldn't be able to disclose that information if he did know. The marijuana found last weekend will be destroyed by incineration after it is used as evidence in any resulting trials, Balthazor said.

Turner was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of hashish with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana without tax stamps and possession of marijuana over one pound, which are all felonies.

Nowak was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver or distribute, possession of hashish with the intent to deliver or distribute, possession of marijuana without tax stamps, possession of more than a pound of marijuana and possession of cocaine, which are all felonies as well.

Reed also seized $960 in cash from the vehicle, which he suspected to be drug related, according to the arrest report.

Last Saturday, an Omaha man was found with 107 pounds of marijuana during a routine traffic stop on I-80 in west Omaha. This marijuana was contained in black plastic bundles, unlike the duffel bags near Sidney. The driver, 27-year-old Kortney Kunegin, was charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver, according to a Nebraska State Patrol news release.

On July 6, in York County a North Dakota man was found with 40 pounds of marijuana. The driver, Kevin Lee, 44 of Sioux Falls, was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, according to a Nebraska State Patrol news release.