MEMPHIS, TN – Agents of the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the 25th Judicial District Drug Task Force interdicted nearly 300 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop early Tuesday morning on Interstate-40 in Haywood County which led to the arrest of a Texas resident on a felony drug charge.
Roberto Barcall-Andrade, 30, of Garland, Texas, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) with intent to manufacture, deliver or sell. The amount of marijuana seized makes this charge a class B felony, which carries a standard sentence of 8-12 years in prison. Barcall-Andrade is being held in the Haywood County Jail on $500,000 bond. This case is being prosecuted by District Attorney Garry Brown of the 28th Judicial District.
Drug Task Force Agent Mike Cook stopped the defendant’s sport utility vehicle for a traffic violation near on I-40 eastbound near the 47 mile marker in Haywood County. Agents Joey Rhea and Rob Harrison made the scene and discovered 291.5 pounds of marijuana inside the vehicle. The marijuana has a retail value of approximately $300,000. The defendant told agents he was traveling from Texas to Indiana.
A multi-jurisdiction criminal interdiction program has been initiated by the West Tennessee Drug Task Force and the 25th Judicial District Drug Task Force. Agents from both task forces patrol Interstate-40 in Shelby, Fayette and Haywood Counties to stop the pipeline of drugs routed through west Tennessee and sold in our communities.
The West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force is a joint agency comprised of law enforcement officers assigned from various law enforcement agencies in three of west Tennessee’s judicial districts. The judicial districts include the 28th Judicial District (Crockett, Gibson, and Haywood Counties); the 29th Judicial District (Dyer and Lake Counties); and the 30th Judicial District (Shelby County). Additionally, six agents work solely for the Task Force and not for separate law enforcement agencies. The Task Force is administered by District Attorney Garry Brown of the 28th Judicial District; District Attorney Phillip Bivins of the 29th Judicial District; and District Attorney Bill Gibbons of the 30th Judicial District. David McGriff, who is also serves as the Shelby County D.A.’s Chief Criminal Investigator, is director of the Task Force.
The 25th Judicial District Drug Task Force is a joint agency comprised of law enforcement officers from Lauderdale, Tipton, Fayette, Hardeman, and McNairy Counties. It is administered by District Attorney Mike Dunavant. |