A driver stopped on the Turner Turnpike for a traffic violation has been arrested on a felony drug charge after more than 50 pounds of marijuana was seized from his vehicle.
Zhou Guo, 35, of Edmond, was formally charged April 9 this year in Lincoln County District Court with trafficking in illegal drugs.
He was arrested on April 4 by State Trooper Matthew Ludwig.
Guo made his initial appearance on April 11. During his appearance before Special Judge Emily Mueller, he pleaded not guilty. She received the plea and set his pre-preliminary hearing for May 23. His bond has been set at $75,000.
She has continued that until July 18. Guo is accused on April 4 this year of possessing 55 pounds of marijuana, a Controlled Dangerous Substance.
Ludwig stated in a probable cause affidavit that shortly before 3:30 p.m. on April 4 this year he was on stationery patrol on the turnpike at mile marker 155 in Lincoln County when he observed a Chevy Impala traveling 58 miles an hour in a minimum of 60 miles per hour and displaying a right rear passenger broken taillight.
After contacting the driver who was later identified as Guo, the trooper said he observed a strong odor of raw marijuana coming from the vehicle. Ludwig said Guo’s hands were shaking.
He requested Guo to get out of the vehicle and have a seat in his patrol unit. Guo told the trooper he was coming from Chandler and only spent about 30 minutes there “looking at the scenery.”
Guo reportedly advised the trooper he was heading to Oklahoma City. He told Ludwig he had 40 pounds of marijuana in his trunk.
A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted and the trooper found two black trash bags in the rear trunk with vacuum sealed bags of marijuana. At that time, Guo was placed under arrest and his vehicle was towed from the scene. Guo was then transported by the trooper to the Lincoln County Jail in Chandler where he was booked and processed.