Super big weed bust on Super Bowl Sunday

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. -- An Oregon State Police traffic stop on Super Bowl Sunday morning, led to the discovery of about 30 pounds of marijuana south of Roseburg.

Officials say at about 10:45 a.m., an OSP trooper stopped a U-Haul truck that was headed north on I-5 near milepost 115 south of Roseburg. Police say they pulled the vehicle over for a minor traffic violation.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Donald J. Ellwood, 53, of Coon Rapids, Minnesota.

Police said the trooper became suspicious, when he smalled a strong odor of both mustard and marijuana. He asked if he could search the vehicle, and during the investigation, OSP Sergeant Dave Randall says the trooper discovered the approximately 30 pounds of marijuana in the back of the U-Haul, mixed in among some furniture.

Sgt. Randall told KPIC News, "In the back, or the cargo compartment of the truck, there was miscellaneous furniture that, it was obvious he had just purchased it at like a used furniture store or something like that, and just this 30 pounds of marijuana."

The marijuana was covered by plastic wrap and covered with mustard. The estimated value of the drugs was $60,000.

Ellwood was arrested and lodged in the Douglas County Jail on charges of unlawful possession and delivery of a controlled substance - marijuana.

Ellwood later admitted to police that he flew out from the Midwest to buy the weed in northern California, and was planning on taking it back to Minnesota.

Bail is listed at $200,000, and OSP Drug Enforcement Section assisted in the investigation.

Randall says people go to great lengths to cover the smell of marijuana, but the other smells are so strong that they tend to raise an officers suspicions.