Piloted A Plane Carrying 850 Pounds Of Pot

One of three people arrested in a Hays County, Texas drug bust was an air traffic controller from New Braunfels Airport.

The Hays County Narcotics Task Force seized 850 pounds of marijuana that was flown into the San Marcos airport, according to Sheriff's Office spokesman Leroy Opiela. The Austin, Texas Statesman reports that police observed bags being loaded from the plane into an SUV. It was later stopped on Interstate 35 about five miles from the airport.

Three people were arrested and charged.  The pilot, air traffic controller Joe Frank Corder of Winberly, TX, was charged with delivery of marijuana, a first degree felony. Melvin Alexander Duran of Austin was driving the vehicle. He was arrested on charges of marijuana possession, a second degree felony. A juvenile was also arrested in the vehicle. He was not identified, and the charges against him were not specified.

Opiela said the bust was one of the largest ever made in Hays county. Authorities recovered 16 large duffel bags filled with marijuana from the SUV.

FMI: http://sheriff.co.hays.tx.us