DPS Highway Patrol Officer Seizes 5,103 Lbs of Marijuana in 10 Days

Seizures made during four separate traffic stops along Interstate 10 Total street value of seized marijuana is about $5 million The first few weeks of November have been extremely exciting, rewarding, and memorable for DPS Highway Patrol Officer Keith E. Duckett. On Monday, November 7th, the 14-year law enforcement veteran who is assigned to the Casa Grande-area stopped a Peterbilt tractor trailer along Interstate 10 just south of Phoenix for equipment violations. The traffic stop, which appeared very routine at first, eventually resulted in the seizure of a stunning 3,632 pounds of marijuana worth about $3.5 million if sold on the streets. Duckett, utilizing the help of his drug-sniffing dog and another officer at DPS, located the marijuana inside of a concealed compartment in the forward portion of the vehicles trailer. The driver of the vehicle, who became combative with officers as he was placed under arrest, was booked on a variety of drug-related charges. Little did Duckett know at the time, but over the next nine days he would make three more unrelated traffic stops along Interstate 10 resulting in the seizure of an additional 1,471 pounds of marijuana. The stops mark some of the largest unrelated marijuana seizures ever made by a single highway patrol officer at DPS within such a short period of time. The stops also mark the largest marijuana seizures made by a highway patrol officer at DPS in recent months. Ducketts second eventful traffic stop took place on Thursday, November 10, near Marana when he stopped a 1999 Chrysler for a license plate violation. As he approached the vehicle he detected a strong odor of marijuana and observed bails of the drug on the vehicles rear floorboard. The driver of the vehicle was arrested and booked on a variety of drug related charges. A thorough search of the vehicle revealed 339 pounds of marijuana worth about $330,000. Ducketts third eventful traffic stop also took place near Marana on Wednesday, November 16. This time he stopped a 1999 GMC pickup truck for a minor traffic violation. After observing several indicators of criminal activity during the stop, Duckett asked the vehicles driver if he could search the truck. The driver granted Duckett permission to conduct a search and the officer, with help from his drug-sniffing dog, quickly located 529 pounds of marijuana in the trucks covered bed. Two suspects in the vehicle were arrested and the marijuana, worth about $520,000, was seized. Ducketts fourth eventful stop took place only one day later on Thursday, November 17. Duckett made this stop along Interstate 10 a few miles southeast of Tucson when a stopped a 2004 Ford pickup truck for an equipment violation. Duckett approached the vehicle on the passenger side and observed bales of marijuana in the trucks rear passenger compartment. After placing the driver of the vehicle under arrest on drug related charges, Duckett located additional bales of marijuana underneath furniture in the trucks bed. All of the marijuana located in the truck totaled 603 pounds and is worth roughly $600,000