
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 27, 1995                   TAG: 9508280087
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

I-81 TRAFFIC STOP NETS DRUG BUST

A Wythe County sheriff's deputy stopped a van Friday evening for a traffic violation and discovered about 100 pounds of marijuana hidden behind door and wall panels.

Jorge Luis B. Alvarez, 21, of Mexico, and Javaier Esparza, 53, and Joaquin B. Romero, 40, both of California, are in the Wythe County Jail, each charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, the sheriff's department said.

Alvarez's bond was set at $25,000; bond had not been set for the other two late Saturday. But investigators said the two men from California said they did not know the van contained marijuana.

Deputy F.D. Carter said the van was traveling north about 50 mph on Interstate 81 in Wythe County near the intersection with Interstate 77 when he pulled it over. The van was traveling too slowly and impeding the flow of traffic, Carter said.

Alvarez consented to a search of the van, Carter said, and when the doors were opened the deputy ``smelled a strong soap odor.''

Carter said soap is often used to mask the odor of marijuana to fool drug-sniffing dogs.

There was a gap around the interior back door handle, Carter said, and when he looked inside he saw a cellophane-wrapped package.

The van was towed to the Sheriff's Office, where a more thorough search uncovered 75 to 100 pounds of marijuana, Carter said.

Carter said the van does not belong to Alvarez and that he apparently was driving it for someone else to a final destination somewhere in Pennsylvania.

by CNB