A routine traffic stop turned into a huge drug bust for deputies from the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office.
On Tuesday, July 14, at 6:17 p.m., deputies were monitoring the area along U.S. Highway 287 when they saw a black Chrysler van with North Carolina registration driving south in the left lane near Burnett Ranch Road.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the van seemed to be exceeding the posted construction-zone speed restriction of 60 MPH.
Furthermore, deputies stated that the van remained in the left lane when it was not actively passing other vehicles.
When the van veered onto the shoulder, deputies conducted a traffic stop near Johnson Road.
Deputies identified the driver and sole occupant as Maria Lokhina, 34, of Houston.
Deputies reported that when they spoke with her, she appeared nervous, and when asked whether they may search her van, she declined.
Because deputies suspected she was trafficking contraband, they used a K9 unit to conduct an outside sniff of the van.
Deputies stated that the dog alerted them to the presence of a narcotics odor, creating probable cause for a search of the vehicle.
During the search, investigators said they discovered four large duffle bags in the rear with many vacuum-sealed bundles of a green, leafy substance that later tested positive for marijuana and weighed 129 pounds.
In addition to the drugs, deputies say they discovered a loaded black Sig Sauer pistol (P365) beneath the center console.
Lokhina was charged with possession of marijuana above 50 pounds, less than or equal to 2,000 pounds, as well as unlawful carrying of a weapon.
At the time of publishing, she was still in jail on a $105,000 bond.
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