Traffic Stop Near Eagle Point Nets Over 2,200 Pounds of Illegal Marijuana

Near Eagle Point, Oregon– A routine traffic stop on Friday evening led to the discovery of a significant amount of illegal marijuana. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies stopped a white Mercedes Sprinter van with Georgia license plates for traffic violations on Highway 140 near Salt Creek Road.

During the stop, a narcotics K9 from the Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) alerted officers to the vehicle, prompting a search. Deputies discovered 43 boxes of processed marijuana, weighing over 2,200 pounds in total. Although the driver presented paperwork claiming the cargo was hemp, further testing revealed the substance contained more than 17% THC, exceeding legal limits for hemp.

The case is under review by the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office, which is considering criminal charges. This discovery is part of a broader effort by IMET to combat illegal marijuana operations in the Rogue Valley. The task force, which is funded by a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, is a multiagency operation involving personnel from the JCSO, Homeland Security Investigations, Oregon State Police, Medford Police Department, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s office.

IMET’s focus remains on addressing black-market marijuana activities while regulatory agencies continue to oversee permitted cannabis operations in the region.

The investigation into this case is ongoing, with detectives pursuing additional leads. Authorities have not released further information at this time.