On October 18, 2017 at about 5:30PM, an OSP Trooper was on Interstate 5 near milepost 61 (near Merlin) when he stopped a 2017 Ford Explorer for speeding. During the stop, the trooper became suspicious of criminal conduct and searched the vehicle following a road side investigation.
During the search, 201 pounds of packaged marijuana was discovered in the vehicle. It was learned the driver, Pandy Hout, age 29, from Shakopee, MN and Lor Meng, age 28, from Sacramento, CA had flown into the Medford Airport from Denver, CO and rented the Ford Explorer. They then traveled to an unknown location in California and acquired the marijuana. It was believed they were transporting the marijuana to Minnesota.
Hout and Meng were arrested on the following charges:
*Import/Export Marijuana (over sixteen pounds across state lines)- Class C Felony
*Possession of Marijuana (person over 21 years of age and over 8 pounds in public place) Class C Felony
*Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana (over sixteen pounds with intent to distribute) Class C Felony
Both were lodged in the Josephine County Jail. No further information to be released at this time.
