Drug trafficker arrested, 37 pounds of marijuana seized

PHILADELPHIA, MS (WLBT) – Thirty-seven pounds of marijuana have been seized and a drug trafficker arrested due to the work of multiple state law enforcement agencies. The agencies have also shut down a drug pipeline which spanned from California to Central Mississippi.

Tuesday afternoon, Rankin County Criminal Interdiction Deputy John Johnson seized the marijuana, which was hidden inside of a Honda passenger vehicle.

Through the work of an investigation, deputies were able to determine that the marijuana was intended to be delivered to an individual in Philadelphia, Miss. Agents from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics immediately began coordinating an undercover operation.

MSN contacted and briefed the Philadelphia Police Department and Neshoba County Sheriff Tommy Waddell, who then both joined the operation. Plans were made to continue the delivery of the marijuana to Philadelphia.

At 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night, the suspect arrived to take the 37-pound delivery. He was immediately arrested without incident.

Sergio Lopez Jr. of Turlock, California was transported to the Neshoba County Jail and booked for trafficking of marijuana.

Sergio Lopez Jr. of Turlock, California was transported to the Neshoba County Jail and booked for trafficking of marijuana. (Source: Bryan Bailey)

Steven Kilgore, the Neshoba County District Attorney, will bring the 21-year-old before a county judge for an initial appearance on the felony charge.

Agents from the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics coordinated the investigation with the Philadelphia Police Department, the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office and the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department.