Deputies with the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office arrested 24-year-old Patrick Medina Cortorreal after discovering approximately 134 pounds of marijuana inside his vehicle during a Friday night stop in Garysburg.
According to investigators, Sergeant J. Velez initiated the stop around 9:11 p.m. on April 3 after observing a gray Kia failing to maintain its lane while traveling southbound on I-95. During a brief roadside interview, deputies said the driver showed deceptive behavior when questioned about his travel history.
Authorities then detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Cortorreal also admitted to having marijuana inside, which led deputies to conduct a probable cause search.
During that search, officers said they found four large boxes containing the drugs.
Cortorreal, who is from Virginia, now faces three felony counts of trafficking marijuana, along with one felony count of maintaining a vehicle and one infraction for failing to maintain lane control. Officials said he received a $60,000 secured bond and was taken to the Northampton County Detention Center.
His court date is scheduled for April 16 in Northampton County.
