BUTTS COUNTY, GEORGIA — A truck driver who noticed his load had shifted during a stop at a Butts County truck stop climbed into his trailer to check for damage and found an open box of marijuana. He called 911 immediately. What deputies found inside was nearly 1,800 pounds of it.
Butts County Sheriff Gary Long confirmed the driver had no idea he was hauling illegal drugs and believed he was transporting legitimate freight that originated in Sacramento, California. The driver had already delivered part of the load to a warehouse in Atlanta and was heading to Orlando when he made the discovery. Approximately half of the marijuana was destined for Atlanta and the other half for Orlando.
The driver will face no charges. However, the discovery cost him dearly — the compromised load meant he forfeited roughly $10,000 in shipping fees.
“He will not be charged and actually, to tell you the truth, it’s a sad day for the truck driver because he’s out about $10,000 for doing the right thing,” Sheriff Long said. “But we are going to give him some reward money because this is a big seizure.”
“This wasn’t good police work,” Long added. “This was a good truck driver.”
The sheriff said deputies plan to burn all 1,800 pounds of the seized marijuana. It was not publicly disclosed how the drugs were loaded into the trailer or whether anyone has been charged in connection with the shipment.
Long used the bust to weigh in on Georgia’s marijuana policy debate, arguing that legal markets in other states have not eliminated illegal trafficking. “The black market isn’t going away,” he said, pointing to California as an example where illegal sales have persisted despite legalization. He called on Georgia lawmakers to study other states’ experiences before making changes to state law.
“Georgia, let’s get it right the first time,” Long said.
Interviews courtesy of local media.
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