A 43-year-old man was arrested Friday morning at Laramie Regional Airport in connection with a drug investigation involving local and federal authorities.
Richard Lierheimer was taken into custody at about 9 a.m., on suspicion of possession of marijuana and possession with intent to deliver, both felonies.
Formal charges could be filed as early as Monday.
He is being held at Albany County Detention Center, awaiting his first court appearance, which could also take place Monday.
Lierheimer, the Albany County Sheriff's Office reported in a news release, was the pilot of a Cessna aircraft that landed at the airport Thursday night.
A search of the plane Friday produced seven large duffle bags containing 172 pounds of "high grade" marijuana with an estimated street value of $500,000, the Sheriff's Office stated in the release.
The investigation and arrest was prompted by a call at about 7 p.m. Thursday from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Division, an organization with ties to Homeland Security, to the Laramie communications dispatch center.
The call, the Sheriff's Office reported, referenced a suspicious Cessna that had gone off radar in the Laramie area.
Federal authorities requested an officer respond to the airport to determine if the plane had landed at the airport. A Laramie Police Department officer later confirmed the plane had landed.
It was found unoccupied, according to the news release.
Federal authorities also requested a K-9 drug detection team be sent to conduct a sniff of the aircraft and the Sheriff's Office responded with its K-9 team. There was an "immediate" positive alert to the odor of drugs coming from the aircraft, according to the news release.
Sheriff's Office deputies and Homeland Security agents were then stationed at surveillance positions throughout the airport property, while search warrants were developed.
Lierheimer returned to the airport Friday morning and was met by law enforcement.
Because the investigation is ongoing, Albany County Undersheriff Rob DeBree was limited Saturday on what he could discuss regarding the probe.
"We've got quite a bit to do with it still," he said.
DeBree said six deputies from the Sheriff's Office and two Homeland Security agents based in Cheyenne participated in the surveillance and arrest operation Friday morning.
The plane, which appears to have flown to Laramie from the West, has been seized, the undersheriff said.
DeBree said more information will be released as the case progresses.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
Rules of Conduct
The Boomerang is a community newspaper. We encourage comments however posts that include personal attacks, profanities, ALL CAPS, links to other websites and email addresses will not be approved. Your comments will be denied and you may be blocked from commenting if you violate our terms of service.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario