Cape bust nets nine pounds of marijuana

A Cape Girardeau man faces drug charges after police seized 9 pounds of marijuana Wednesday.

Corey Martin, 29, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The first charge carries a sentence of five to 15 years in prison; the second charge carries a penalty of one day to one year in the county jail or up to $1,000 in fines. Martin posted a $50,000 bond Wednesday.

The Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force and the Missouri State Highway Patrol participated in the investigation.

The marijuana had a street value of about $14,500.

Seizures of that magnitude are becoming more common, Sgt. Barry Hovis said.

The reason may simply be because the department has been making more frequent undercover buys and using confidential informants rather than an increase in drug activity, he said.

In Scott County, a traffic stop Wednesday led to the seizure of more than 4 pounds of marijuana from three Fond du Lac, Wis., residents.

Miner, Mo., police officers stopped a vehicle for speeding on Interstate 55, and responding Scott County deputies assisted in the questioning of the suspects and the search of the vehicle.

Samuel L. Mullen, 42, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Bond was set at $35.000. Susan M. Broder, 39, and Herbert T. Maldonado, 19, were charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Bond for both was set at $25,000.

That seizure comes on the heels of one in Scott City in which four and a half pounds of marijuana were seized by Scott City police.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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