A recent traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Pine Creek Township led to the seizure of approximately 300 pounds of marijuana.
Court documents indicate the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations filed criminal charges against 47-year-old Sophia Ming Xia Lin, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and 47-year-old Guang Hui Li, of Flushing, N.Y.
According to a criminal complaint, around 11:59 a.m. on Thursday, May 16, Trooper Hoy of the Pennsylvania State Police SHIELD section (Safe Highways Initiative for Effective Law Enforcement and Detection) initiated a traffic stop on Interstate 80 eastbound at mile marker 80.9 in Pine Creek Township, Jefferson County.
According to the complaint, upon approaching the vehicle and after speaking with the occupants, identified as Sophia Ming Xia Lin and Guang Hui Li, consent to search was requested from Li and was denied.
A Pennsylvania State Police K-9 Unit was then called to the scene, and, according to the complaint, the certified Drug Detection K-9 alerted police that drugs may be inside the vehicle. A search resulted in the seizure of 300 vacuum sealed bags of marijuana totaling approximately 300 pounds.
Li and Lin were arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Gregory M. Bazylak on Friday, May 17.
They each face the following charges:
– Conspiracy – Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony – Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony – Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor
They were each lodged in the Jefferson County Jail pending $250,000.00 monetary bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11, with Judge Bazylak presiding.
