State Police make major drug bust in Crittenden County

Local drug bust also highlights recent ASP efforts statewide

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

Arkansas State Police (ASP) made one of their largest drug busts of November in Crittenden County, seizing over 200 pounds of illegal marijuana and two firearms during a traf_c stop on Interstate 40. This incident is part of a larger effort that resulted in the con_scation of more than 680 pounds of illegal drugs and 13 _rearms across the state in the _rst three weeks of November.

The West Memphis bust occurred on Wednesday, November 20, around 11:30 a.m. Troopers stopped a Dodge Ram pickup on I-40 eastbound and conducted a search, uncovering 211 pounds of marijuana wrapped in bundles in the backseat and truck bed. Two handguns were also found in the vehicle. The driver, 30-year-old Michael Penilton of Lamar, Mississippi, was arrested and transported to the Crittenden County Detention Center. He faces felony charges, including Possession with Intent to Deliver and Simultaneous Possession of Drugs and Firearms.

Statewide Seizures Highlight Interstate Drug Traf_cking The West Memphis case was the largest of several signi_cant seizures on Arkansas interstates this month. Among the other major arrests and con_scations: November 18: Troopers stopped a Ford Fusion on I-40 eastbound near London, _nding 93 pounds of marijuana, 10 pounds of THC wax, 1,000 vape cartridges, and more than $21,000 in cash. A Glock pistol was also seized. Driver Graham Toth, 24, of Los Angeles, was arrested and charged with multiple felonies.

November 12: Around 4 a.m., Troopers stopped a Ford F-150 in North Little Rock and discovered 130 pounds of marijuana stuffed in trash bags in the truck bed. Driver Srdjan Novakovic, 65, of La Mesa, California, was

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PENILTON DRUG BUST

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arrested on felony charges.

November 4: A traf_c stop on I-40 eastbound near Morrilton led to the discovery of 124 pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed bundles inside a Toyota Camry. The driver, Shouwei Jiang, 42, from New York, was arrested and charged with drug-related felonies.

Other notable arrests:

November 18: Troopers seized 73 pounds of marijuana from a Toyota 4Runner in Lonoke County and arrested Cameron Martin, 25, of Memphis, Tennessee.

November 12: A Hyundai Elantra stop resulted in the con_scation of a stolen _rearm, Oxycodone pills, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia. The driver, Arron Robinson, 33, of Maumelle, was arrested.

November 11: A Nissan Sentra in Pope County was found with 24 pounds of marijuana. The driver, Emon Washington, 23, of Marietta, Georgia, was taken into custody.

November 10: Troopers in Lonoke County seized 49 pounds of marijuana from a Chrysler Paci_ca. The driver, a 51-year-old New Jersey man, was arrested.

November 4: In Morrilton, Wendy Hernandez, 30, of Texas, was arrested after Troopers found 51 pounds of marijuana in a Chevrolet Malibu.

A Growing Concern on Arkansas Highways Interstate 40 has become a signi _cant corridor for drug traf_cking, with West Memphis often a key location for seizures due to its proximity to major transportation routes. ASP’s aggressive traf_c enforcement and use of drug detection methods are part of an ongoing effort to disrupt the ow of contraband across the state.

“These seizures underscore the importance of maintaining vigilance on our highways,” an ASP spokesperson said. “Each arrest and con_scation means fewer illegal drugs and weapons in our communities.”