CASSOPOLIS – Cass County Sheriff Joseph M. Underwood announces that on Tuesday, July 12, a Cass County sheriff’s deputy uncovered around 450 pounds of marijuana and a handgun during a traffic stop at M-40 and Marcellus Highway in Marcellus.
The deputy was on patrol in the area and noted a 2003 Chevrolet pickup truck committing a traffic violation.  During the traffic stop the deputy detected the presence of an illegal handgun in the vehicle.
The deputy began to investigate further and discovered a large amount of marijuana concealed within the vehicle.
Fifteen large bales were located. Inside each bale were numerous bricks of packaged marijuana.
The total weight of the marijuana was 450 pounds with a street value of $720,000.  A loaded handgun was also seized by the deputy.
Two subjects were arrested at the scene for conspiracy to deliver marijuana over 45 kilograms, a 15-year felony; delivery of marijuana over 45 kilograms; and possession of marijuana.
The driver of the vehicle was also arrested for possession of a concealed weapon and multiple counts of possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony.
The two subjects were lodged at Cass County Jail.
Passenger Hector Manuel Diaz-Batista, 22, was arraigned in Fourth District Court of Cass County and is held in lieu of a $500,000 cash-only bond.
The driver, Rolando Diaz-Aybar, 43, was arraigned Friday on the drug and weapons offenses in Fourth District Court and was also being held on a cash-only $500,000 bond.
Anyone with information on this or any other drug-related matter is asked to contact the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team at (269) 782-5206, the tip line at 1-800-462-9328 or leave an anonymous web tip at WWW.CCSO.INFO.