A traffic stop conducted Tuesday by a trooper with the Indiana State Police Versailles Post on Interstate 65 near Seymour led to the discovery of a large amount of marijuana and cash.
That in turn led to the arrest of Arman Hakobyan, 37, of Chatsworth, California, on preliminary charges of dealing in marijuana in excess of 70 pounds and possession of marijuana, according to a news release from Sgt. Stephen Wheeles.
The traffic stop occurred at about 5 p.m. Tuesday in the southbound lanes near the 51 mile marker just north of Seymour, said Wheeles, who conducted the stop and also is the post’s public information officer.
Wheeles said he became suspicious of possible criminal activity during the stop, which led to the search of the 2022 Ford Edge Hakobyan had been driving.
During that search, troopers located approximately 60 vacuum-sealed packages containing suspected marijuana, Wheeles said. Initial estimates indicated the weight of the packaged marijuana to be in excess of 70 pounds, and more than $16,000 in U.S. currency also was located in the car, he said.
The marijuana is estimated to have a street value of $150,000 to $200,000, police said.
Hakobyan is being held without bond at the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown pending his initial appearance in Jackson Circuit Court.