Four busted for pot

A state trooper’s traffic stop in late August near Pendleton led to the arrest of four men and the seizure of approximately 28 pounds of marijuana.

According to Oregon State Police Lt. Greg Sherman, on Aug. 28 at approximately 11:50 p.m., an OSP trooper stopped a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup displaying Washington license plates on Highway 395 near Milepost 5 for a traffic violation. Victor A. Rodriguez-Morfin, 19, was driving the pickup, which also carried passengers Cesar Elias Orozco-Arechiga, 27, Humberto Madriz Valensia Jr., 27, and Humberto Valensia Sr., 47. All the men were from Pasco.

The trooper searched and found about 28 lbs. of marijuana in the bed of the pickup. OSP estimated the drugs were worth about $75,000.

State police booked the men in the Umatilla County Jail on charges of possession, manufacture and delivery of marijuana, as well as counts of criminal conspiracy. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also placed immigration holds on the men.

Each has a bail of $42,000. The jail transported Humberto Valensia Sr. on Sept. 2 to ICE officials in Tacoma, Wash. The other three remain in the jail. An OSP news release said an ongoing investigation has led to no more arrests.