Nearly 900 Pounds Of Pot Found During Interstate Traffic Stop
Nearly 900 Pounds Of Pot Found During Interstate Traffic Stop Save Email Print
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(December 2, 2008)—A routine traffic stop Sunday on Interstate 35 in Temple led to the discovery of 872 pounds of marijuana in the trailer of an 18-wheeler, police said Tuesday.

The marijuana has an estimated value of $872,000, police said.

A Temple police officer pulled over the 18-wheeler around 10:50 a.m. Sunday for a traffic violation.

After speaking to the driver, the officer became suspicious, police said, and asked for permission to search the rig.

The driver consented and the officer found the pot in the trailer compartment, police said.

Armando Chavarin, 31, of Laredo, was arrested without incident and was taken to the Bell County Jail.

He faces federal drug trafficking charges, police said.

The truck and the marijuana were seized.
(Armando Chavarin)
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Posted by: Patriot Location: Texas on Dec 4, 2008 at 06:48 PM
Anonymous in Temple IS Rose in Belton. LOL You don't cover your tracks too well. Liberal cowards make me sick. They're always deviously hypocritical.....right Rachel? Btw, "Mexican" is a nationality not a race.
Posted by: anon 2 Location: Temple on Dec 4, 2008 at 09:23 AM
I agree with the person who said someone got paid off at the border. There is a checkpoint that every truck has to go through and they have drug dogs there. They run the dog past the back of your truck. Good job TPD. And I agree with Patriot and Just sayin is all.
Posted by: GOOD JOB T.P.D. on Dec 4, 2008 at 07:09 AM
I can't get over the fact that people are mad that nearly a half of a METRIC TON of ILLEGAL narcotics were taken off the street. Who cares what the guys race was? Fact remains, it's off the street. Those of you who complain of this, should be just as guilty as the guy that was transporting the dope!! I say we come up with a crime for uneducated idiots like yourselves, when you make these stupid comments.
Posted by: Concerned Location: America on Dec 3, 2008 at 11:39 PM
Gatesville people have the desire to place blame. Most prefer to look outwards instead of inwards it's easier that way. Look at how these people communicate with one another. They feel their a cut above but their right there moving along with the status quo herd. I think this election really made people angry and they are venting by trying to sugar coat their racism by standing behind statistics that they can't even qualify. Their pretty vicious aren't they?
Posted by: Anon Location: Bell on Dec 3, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Where does 90% of illegal drugs come from into Texas? People need to stop playing the race card and remember it's a problem with a country called MEXICO. So to say Mexican is not racist. Good job to Temple PD!
Posted by: gatesville Location: gatesville on Dec 3, 2008 at 10:36 PM
why every time something goes wrong every body has something negative to say about the mexicans but the truth theres wrong in all race not just mexicans i mean come on know there are cops that are even dirty but we never here about that always the poor mexicans come on know leave them alone judge yourself before you go judgeing others didnt your parents show yall what morals are
Posted by: Ann Location: CenTex on Dec 3, 2008 at 10:18 PM
To Rose and Anonymous @ 05:45 PM~~~ what are you implying? That the Mexican Drug Cartel that's responsible for all illegal drugs coming across the border is actually a charity organization? pfft! Please spare us the ridiculous diatribe.
Posted by: SP Location: Temple on Dec 3, 2008 at 09:51 PM
To Anonymous in Temple....Everything Patriot said is true. The Mexican drug cartel violence is so bad at out borders that even our governer has asked for help. Just a few days ago, nine headless bodies were found at a border town in California. TAKE OFF YOUR BLINDERS IDIOT!!
Posted by: Not racist on Dec 3, 2008 at 09:44 PM
Just wanted to point out to Anonymous in Temple that the guy arrested is Mexican.... If you read the indictments or look at the police reports, unfortunately a higher percentage are minorities. Afraid that adds fuel to the fire but its the obvious facts ?
Posted by: anonymous Location: austin on Dec 3, 2008 at 09:22 PM
The people are already moderated enough. I agree with some of the posts but let's keep freedom of speech one of the freedoms we still have - good or bad. That's what makes us America.
Posted by: DJ Location: Killeen Texas on Dec 3, 2008 at 08:45 PM
Whelp... there goes our Christmas stash...
Posted by: Rose Location: Belton on Dec 3, 2008 at 08:03 PM
I for one and proud that TPD got the drugs off the street. Kudos to them. Just me i'm with you buddy. It amazes me how much "courage" some bloggers get when they get the anonymity from the internet. I would recommend KWTX assign moderators to these boards.
Posted by: Beth Location: Out in the Country on Dec 3, 2008 at 06:29 PM
If you think there's nothing wrong with pot,you're wrong. Pot makes you lathargic & lose your good judgement. Then you try harder drugs & get addicted. My ex-husband smoked pot before he moved to heroin. He destroyed a business that had taken years to build & lost his wife (me). Years later, my son would say the same thing as he "advanced" from pot to other drugs. He ditched his good friends for a few thugs, and his conscious for whatever he could steal to pay for his habit. He couldn't keep a job, and lost his apartment. He lived in his vehicle until he lost it too. He became paranoid & would hide from imaginary people he said were chasing him. He spent time in jail, then had probation & a mountain of legal fees. Thank God, several years ago he turned his life back around. Today I'm proud to call him my son. He's a good man, a good father, & has a good job. He also has a felony on his record that will never go away, & a mangled credit history.
Posted by: Just Me Location: Temple on Dec 3, 2008 at 05:56 PM
I came on here to learn more about how everyone in the area felt about this whole big pot bust. Regretfully I found a bunch of humans fighting back and forth over TPD getting a bunch of pot off the streets. Well, don't you all think it is great that the pot won't hit the streets. IT IS ILLEGAL! If you don't want to get caught, don't do it!!!!!! We have enough to worry about. Bell County is known to give a drug dealer more time than a murderer. Instead of fighting among ourselves, why don't all you big mouths stand up for whats right and let Bell County know their priorities are all screwed up? He!! yes if you do the crime you do the time, but murderers get a slap on the wrist around here and we are the ones who suffer. If you murder someone you have taken their life. Nobody forces people to buy dope.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Temple on Dec 3, 2008 at 05:45 PM
The statement is directed towards Patriot. Ive read a lot of you're post and I am completley convinced you are one racist sob. Stop assigning heritage to criminal activity. You make me sick!
Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Dec 3, 2008 at 04:18 PM
I sure hope JimW WAS high when he wrote that...lol
Posted by: Patriot Location: Texas on Dec 3, 2008 at 11:19 AM
People cry when the police don't do enough, then cry when they do their job. JimW...what's your problem? Too HIGH to spell correctly or stayed to "high" in school and dropped out?? People, it's ILLEGAL to transport large amounts of marijuana and a Federal Offense. So, potheads....get over it!! Yeah, I'm sure there's some drug cartel very ticked at losing a million dollar sale, but who gives a ____??? These Mexican criminals feed of your drug habits and your children's. Geeez, makes me think twice about supporting Open Carry!
Posted by: Eve Location: Waco on Dec 3, 2008 at 06:36 AM
HELlOOOOO!!!!! When you are caring somthing you're not supposed and the cop asks if he can search your vehicle you say NOOOO!
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Waco on Dec 3, 2008 at 03:13 AM
So what they made another bust...but what about next week and the week after that they'll never stop the drug flow lol
Posted by: JimW Location: Waco on Dec 3, 2008 at 01:56 AM
Your all on here talking about how bad marijuana is for you What I would like to know is how many on here has some kind of pain killer they are taking right now for you so called back pain,leg pain, or what ever. I know most of you started out taking them cause you had pain how many of you are taking them now cause you just like the high they give you when you take them. Drugs Your pain killers your doctor gives you is a drug that is stoled out of your purses by your grandkids or who ever cause they can sell them on the streets or get high themselves so I know alot of people that are carrying around pain killers YOU WOULDNT BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WOUDL YOU YEP I BET YOU ARE. and Im with Marlin and Marlin2 and Tex. You probble have those pain killers. And when all your friends say oh my back hurts do you give them one of you pain killers cause they help you so much Yea drug trafficing your a drug dealer... indead you are
Posted by: me Location: waco on Dec 2, 2008 at 07:34 PM
ojo, money talk.
Posted by: da man Location: waco on Dec 2, 2008 at 05:09 PM
damn man Temple PD hit a nice little lick. Now they gonna send this man away for life. Should have murdered someone instead you could be out by next summer
Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Dec 2, 2008 at 03:26 PM
BUT IT WAS ONLY POT...POT DONT HURT NO ONE! LEGALIZE POT! What a load of BS. Legalize pot then the coke heads will want Coke legalized. And dont think they wont. Pot heads point to alcohol and say it was once illegal, you dont think coke heads are as smart as pot heads? They are all dopes...lol
Posted by: Yep Location: Cove on Dec 2, 2008 at 03:22 PM
I KNEW IT. I KNEW dope heads would get on here and cry for legalization! And based on some of the rambling comments Marlin has made on other articles I am NOT surprised it was HIM.
Posted by: BOB Location: Belton on Dec 2, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Congrats to the officer. I'm not sure what tipped him off, the story didn't say but I'm glad he caught it.
Posted by: anonymous Location: Austin on Dec 2, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Bet there are a lot more trucks than just this one carrying drugs. If there is any checkpoint, it should be for these truckers. Set up a lane off I-35 and make trucks (all) pull down the lane and check them out. Better yet, check ever single truck out of Mexico coming into Texas. Seems also south Texas has a lot of problems. I say NO trucks from Mexico coming into the US. This is what we have to look forward to. Glad this guy got caught. Too much money in it for them to say no. I bet Texas could get rich off the fines from the companies who own the trucks.
Posted by: TX Mom Location: Belton on Dec 2, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Now what is everyones saying on these things? Where were his parents? Did they not teach him right from wrong? LOL
Posted by: Tex on Dec 2, 2008 at 02:35 PM
Somebody is in alot of trouble,and not just with the law .
Posted by: parent Location: Moody on Dec 2, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Good job Temple PD.
Posted by: jerry Location: temple on Dec 2, 2008 at 12:33 PM
i gus the donut shop was closed
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 2, 2008 at 12:29 PM
This is part of the collective organized criminal activity the illegals bring to our state and other states of this once great country. they ruined mexico, now they bring their ruin here- this is exactly why we dont need them or want them here-unless you want your kids to deal with this issue at 10x worse conditions. Good job to the police officials/keep up the good work!
Posted by: ~ô¿ô~ Location: 3rd planet on Dec 2, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Looks like dude will not be driving a truck for a long time. This fool is just a carrier pigeon. Wish the big dealers could be put behind bars. They are probably from gangs who are also illegal aliens. The doep must have come out of Mexico or central America. Shame on our border patrol. Someone down there must have got paid off to let this truck through, ie corruption. And how did it get through the 60 mile check point??
Posted by: Marlin Location: Texas on Dec 2, 2008 at 11:32 AM
If the state EVER allows the Mexican trucks to run our highways in unlimited amounts this will be a standard occurance! As for the time he'll get, I doubt he'll get 99 years. He'll get probation. I don't think marijuana should be any more illegal than alchohol. It does the same thing and is actually less harmful medically speaking. On top of that, we could eliminate several thousand inmates at our prisons and reserve those cells for hardened violent criminals instead of (mostly) kids who were smoking a joint! They'll never legalize it though. Too much money for the government in it. Look at this one bust. The Federal government is going to "buy" the marijuana from Temple PD for 872,000, the Temple PD gets a 18 wheeler free, and Temple can show they are "doing something" about drug use and get grant money too. On top of all that, the judicial and law enforcement gets to claim they need more nmoney in tax dollars for "drug enforcement" activities. The defense lawyers make money too.
Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Dec 2, 2008 at 11:08 AM
WOOHOO! I can hear the DOPEheads crying frmo here....LMAO! Good Job! P.S. Sex offenders should get automatic life sentences with no possibility of parole. Aggravated sex offenders and child molesters should get the death penalty.
Posted by: ELIDA Location: BELTON on Dec 2, 2008 at 10:54 AM
NOW GIVE THIS GUY 99 YRS BUT A SEX OFFENDER GETS 5 YRS.... WHAT ARE WE TO DO?
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