Suspicious Package Leads To Drug Arrest

Two young men are in custody after being observed picking up a suspicious package from a home on 4th street in Newport. According to Newport police chief Maurice Shults, Newport detective Derrick Webb along with other members of flaw enforcement monitored the delivery of a package suspected to contain controlled substances. The post office delivered the package to an unoccupied address on 4th street on March 9th. At approximately 2:50 that afternoon, a white Chevrolet Tahoe driven by a 20 year old white male, with a 21 year old white male passenger, pulled into the driveway of the address. The driver picked up the package and the two drive off, driving through several residential areas that were what Chief Shults referred to as geographically inconsistent with a normal path of travel. The Tahoe eventually pulled into Country Convenience Store where police conducted a felony stop and the Cocke County Sheriff’s office released the K-9 Narco who alerted to drugs in the Tahoe. Inside that suspicious package were 2 separate vacuum sealed packages believed to be marijuana weighing approx. 2 lbs. 5 ounces. 2 other packages containing over 3 pounds of what is believed to be THC wax/utter was in the box as well. 51 individually wrapped THC edible gummies and 5 packages of Vape bars were also included in the box. A clear plastic baggie containing loose Marijuana was also found in-between the passenger seat and the center console of the Tahoe. Charges against the two men have been referred to the District Attorney’s office. Chief Shults says the investigation into that package is continuing.