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Traffic Stop Turns Up $100K Worth Of Drugs

PEOTONE, Ill. (STMW) - Police say a routine traffic stop turned into a $100,000 drug bust Thursday.

Officers from the Will County Sheriff's Gang Suppression Unit pulled over a white Chevrolet van about 9 p.m. Thursday on southbound Interstate 57, north of Wilmington-Peotone Road in Peotone.

According to reports, the van had no rear registration light and deputies questioned Alejandro A. Pena, 35.

"Deputies noticed a strong smell of fabric softener and air freshener emitting from inside the van, and called Peotone narcotics canine Agbar to the scene," spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer said.

Agbar reportedly smelled drugs on the side and rear of the van where deputies found three plastic garbage bags containing 70 pounds of cannabis.

Pena, who does not have a valid driver's license, said he was driving from Chicago to visit a friend in Memphis. He was charged with intent to deliver cannabis and booked into the county jail.

© Sun-Times Media Wire Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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