A canine deputy from the Windsor Police Department arrested two people from New York Wednesday night for transporting over 100 pounds of marijuana in their rental car. The deputy spotted the car, a black Toyota Avalon traveling southbound 101 in downtown Santa Rosa shortly after 9:00 PM. He observed the Toyota was traveling too close to the vehicle in front of it and made a traffic stop for the unsafe infraction near Hearn Ave.
The deputy contacted the driver, Steven Molinero, a 27-year old resident of Staten Island NY, and his passenger, Almir Ramic, a 29 year old man from Staten Island, NY. During his contact the deputy could smell an odor of marijuana coming from the car. Both occupants denied any knowledge of marijuana in the car.
The deputy used his partner, a certified drug-sniffing canine named Jags to search the car. Jags alerted to several duffel bags that ultimately contained 108 pounds of processed marijuana, all double wrapped, shrink sealed and soiled with air freshener. Molinero was also in possession of over $2000 in cash. The current street value of marijuana is about $5000 per pound in New York.
Both Molinero and Ramic were arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Jail on charges of Possession of Marijuana for Sale, Transportation of Marijuana for Sale and Conspiracy. Both have been released on a $30,000 bail bond.
A picture of Jags and his seizure are posted on our Facebook page at Sonoma Sheriff. https://www.facebook.com/sonoma.sheriff/
Prepared by : Sgt. Spencer Crum
Media Inquiries: 707-565-3941
Reference: CR 160817-008
