40 Lbs Of Pot Found In Wrapped Gifts At Traffic Stop: Newtown PD

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA -- Two men were arrested last month by Newtown Township Police after about 40 pounds of marijuana was found hidden inside what appeared to be wrapped Christmas presents, authorities announced Thursday.

According to Newtown Township Police, 27-year-old Elihu Blackmon III and Christian Abell, 22, were pulled over early on Dec. 22 in the area of Providence Court and Twining Bridge Road. Police said around 3 a.m., they saw a suspicious vehicle on Swamp Road in an area adjacent to Providence Court, so a traffic stop was conducted.

Blackmon, of Albuquerque, NM, and Abell of San Diego, CA, were in a Hertz Rental van. While speaking with the pair, police said they smelled a "strong odor" of marijuana from inside of the van.

Upon further investigation, a small amount of suspected marijuana and more than $19,000 in cash was discovered, police said. Officers impounded the vehicle and got a search warrant. After the search warrant was obtained, police recovered 30 to 40 pounds of marijuana, more than 700 THC (marijuana) vaporizers and more than $80,000 in cash inside the van.

The items recovered were located inside of numerous wrapped Christmas presents and pieces of luggage, police said.

Abell was arraigned in front of Judge Petrucci and sent to Bucks County Prison on $500,000 bail. There is currently an active felony arrest warrant for Blackmon.

Here is his photo:

PHOTO: Newtown Twp PD