130 Pounds of Marijuana Found in Car, Police Say

officers arrested two women from upstate New York Monday night after allegedly finding more than 130 pounds of raw marijuana in one of their cars. 

Officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle at 6:45 p.m. Monday near Forest Avenue and and Ruckner Road and found two cars with New York license plates at the location, Police Chief Frank Regino said Tuesday. According to Regino, the drivers did not "give a good account of what they were doing in the area."

Regino said the officers detected a strong odor of marijuana in one of the vehicles, a gray Chevrolet Impala. The drivers gave consent to search both vehicles, Regino said, and police allegedly found more than 130 pounds of raw marijuana inside the Impala.

"The marijuana was packaged in one pound bundles that were heat sealed," Regino said, adding that the bundles were in two large duffel bags. The two drivers were then arrested, Regino said.

Janine M. Murray, 47, of Brasher Falls, N.Y., and Julie T Ruben, 50, of Winthrop, N.Y., were both charged with first degree possession of marijuana over 25 pounds with the intent to distribute and second degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000 feet of a school zone. Judge Alan Karch set both their bails at $150,000 with no 10 percent option.

Both vehicles were taken as part of the investigation and Regino said the destination of the marijuana is unknown. The investigation is ongoing.