RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. – Two individuals from California were arrested after authorities recovered more than 600 pounds of high-grade marijuana in Rankin County.
On Wednesday, Puckett Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Suburban along Highway 18, discovering approximately 120 pounds of marijuana. The investigation was then escalated to the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities developed information indicating that a significant quantity of marijuana was being stored in the Jackson metro area and distributed throughout Mississippi. This led to a search warrant executed early Friday morning at a rented warehouse/office near Jackson International Airport.
Investigators seized roughly 500 pounds of marijuana and a large amount of U.S. currency. Two suspects, Karissa Renee McDonald, 23, and Jose De Jesus Vasquez Estrada, 26, both from California, were taken into custody. They were charged with trafficking a Schedule I controlled substance.
Both defendants will appear before Rankin County Court Judge David Morrow for their initial court appearance. Officials noted that the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected.
The estimated street value of the seized marijuana exceeds $1 million. Multiple agencies participated in the operation, including the Puckett Police Department, Madison Police Department, Brandon Police Department, Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, and the DEA/HIDTA Drug Task Force.
