Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Police seized a single-engine Cessna airplane at John Tune Airport in west Nashville Thursday after authorities believe it was used to transport marijuana from California to Nashville. Two people have been arrested in the case.
The plane landed in Nashville at about 7 p.m. Wednesday. The pilot and his passenger were seen offloading three suspicious looking duffel bags, said police.
Witnesses reported what they saw to authorities just before the travelers left the airport in a rental car. A police drug dog was brought to the airport and plane and detected a drug odor.
Detectives located the rental car at 2 a.m. Thursday at a Nashville strip club. The pilot and his passenger then traveled back to a Broadway hotel where they had checked in earlier. Police believe the men sold much of the marijuana shortly after checking in at the hotel.
When the pilot, Eric Bausch, 40, of Petaluma, Calif., and his passenger, Robbie Valdespino, 33, of San Francisco, returned to the aircraft midday Thursday, detectives arrested the men.
Found amongst their luggage were more than 17 pounds of hydroponic marijuana, which has a street value of more than $70,000, along with and $20,000 cash. Bausch and Valdespino are charged with possession of marijuana for resale. They are being held with bail set at $350,000 each.
Police said Bausch flew the plant from Southern California to Nashville and intended to fly on to the New Orleans area. Detectives also said the plane landed in Nashville on March 8 with what was suspected to have been another load of marijuana.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: WSMV.com
Copyright: 2011 WSMV.com
Contact: news@wsmv.com
Website: Plane, Drugs Seized At John C. Tune Airport
The plane landed in Nashville at about 7 p.m. Wednesday. The pilot and his passenger were seen offloading three suspicious looking duffel bags, said police.
Witnesses reported what they saw to authorities just before the travelers left the airport in a rental car. A police drug dog was brought to the airport and plane and detected a drug odor.
Detectives located the rental car at 2 a.m. Thursday at a Nashville strip club. The pilot and his passenger then traveled back to a Broadway hotel where they had checked in earlier. Police believe the men sold much of the marijuana shortly after checking in at the hotel.
When the pilot, Eric Bausch, 40, of Petaluma, Calif., and his passenger, Robbie Valdespino, 33, of San Francisco, returned to the aircraft midday Thursday, detectives arrested the men.
Found amongst their luggage were more than 17 pounds of hydroponic marijuana, which has a street value of more than $70,000, along with and $20,000 cash. Bausch and Valdespino are charged with possession of marijuana for resale. They are being held with bail set at $350,000 each.
Police said Bausch flew the plant from Southern California to Nashville and intended to fly on to the New Orleans area. Detectives also said the plane landed in Nashville on March 8 with what was suspected to have been another load of marijuana.
NewsHawk: Jim Behr: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: WSMV.com
Copyright: 2011 WSMV.com
Contact: news@wsmv.com
Website: Plane, Drugs Seized At John C. Tune Airport
