Oregon Police Trooper Seizes Approximately 171 Pounds of Marijuana

Oregon State Police Drug Enforcement Section detectives estimate the value of the seized marijuana at $400,000 - $500,000.

171 pounds of marijuana OSP says they found in car's trunk Photos: Oregon State Police / Umatilla County Sheriff's Office

(PENDLETON, Ore.) - An Oregon State Police, with the assistance of his drug detection dog, seized approximately 171 pounds of marijuana Tuesday afternoon during a traffic stop on Interstate 84 in the Pendleton-area. The lone occupant of the car was arrested on multiple charges and positively identified through fingerprints.

Tuesday at approximately 1:54 PM, an Oregon State Police trooper stopped a 2005 Chevrolet Impala displaying Nevada license plates westbound on Interstate 84 near milepost 205 for Following Too Close and Unlawful Lane Change.

During the contact, the trooper's drug detection dog alerted on the car and a subsequent search led to the discovery of approximately 171 pounds of marijuana in the trunk. The marijuana was in twelve individual heavily wrapped bales.

The driver, who police say displayed a false Washington driver license, was taken into custody. While searching the suspect, the trooper says he also found a small amount of cocaine in his pant's pocket.

Following a search of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) based upon the suspect's fingerprints, he was positively identified as 50-year old Ramon Giron Pimentel of Toppenish, Washington.

Mr. Pimentel was lodged in the Umatilla County Jail on charges of Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance – Cocaine, Giving False Information to a Police Officer, and Possession of a Forged Instrument to wit: Washington Driver License.

Oregon State Police Drug Enforcement Section detectives are continuing the investigation. Estimated value of the seized marijuana is $400,000 - $500,000.