A southwest Iowa sheriff’s deputy made a sizable drug seizure and two arrests Wednesday afternoon. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker says Deputy Brian Miller and his canine partner “Francisco” stopped a pickup truck for speeding on Interstate 80 near Council Bluffs.

Sheriff Danker says after talking with the driver, the deputy became suspicious and requested permission to search the vehicle. When the driver said no, the deputy and his dog did a perimeter search of the pickup and the dog indicated the presence of drugs. At that point, the vehicle was searched and 116-pounds of marijuana were seized, along with $7,000 in cash.

The driver of the pickup, 41-year old Geoff Brandon, and his wife, 33-year old Maria Brandon, both of Eureka, California, were taken into custody. Each faces charges of possession with the intent to deliver/marijuana, a tax stamp violation, and prohibited acts. The couple was booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail and were scheduled to have appeared in court today.

Submitted by Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic