A long-term investigation and a traffic stop resulted in twoarrests and several pounds of drugs being seized recently,according to authorities.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Agents Chris Picouand Dustin Bairfield confiscated almost 20 pounds of marijuana,over a pound of cocaine and two vehicles with the help of Belle, adrug dog, Thursday in two separate incidents.

Picou started the night’s events with a traffic stop onInterstate 55 around the 43 mile marker. He pulled over RomneyConner, 31, of Houston, Texas, after Picou observed the 2000Pontiac Grand Prix failing to yield right of way.

“While checking his insurance papers against the VIN (vehicleidentification number), I smelled the odor of marijuana,” saidPicou.

After obtaining consent to search the vehicle, Picou discoveredwhy the smell was so prevalent.

“Underneath the hood, sitting on the engine, I foundapproximately 15 pounds of marijuana, a little over a pound ofpowder cocaine and almost an ounce of crack cocaine,” saidPicou.

The heat from the engine had melted the covering of one brick ofmarijuana and some of the substance was already burning.

Picou estimated that the drugs, which were being taken fromTexas to Memphis, had a street value of $70,000.

Conner is being held in the Lincoln County Jail on a $100,000bond after being charged with possession of cocaine and marijuanawith intent to sell.

The second drug bust of the night was the result of aseven-month investigation that stemmed from an anonymous tip, saidBairfield.

Bairfield, with the help of Mississippi Bureau of Narcoticsagents, served a search warrant at 3070 McCullough Road in Ruth,the home of 38-year-old Kathy Halford.

“The search revealed that she had personal use marijuana in theresidence,” said Bairfield. “She also had scales and outside, in avehicle, two bricks of marijuana weighing about two pounds wereseized.”

Bairfield added that two vehicles were seized and the land willbe seized as it was in 1998 when her husband, Thomas, faced drugcharges.

Deputies said they had to relinquish the property three yearsago because it was in the name of the Halford’s nine-year-old son.The third-party innocence law only applies once, though, so theproperty and land will be seized, explained Bairfield.

Kathy Halford was arrested and charged with possession ofmarijuana with intent to distribute. Her $50,000 bond was revokedbecause she was on probation for previous drug charges.