BY Susan K. Lamb, Special to the News

Quick-thinking Florida Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement officers last week discovered a hidden compartment in a truck on Interstate 10 where 549.2 pounds of marijuana was found and confiscated.



The $600,000 seizure took place after the eastbound rental-type truck failed to stop for inspection at the eastbound inspection station near the Suwannee River in Suwannee County at about 10:55 p.m. July 30, according to Major Jerry Bryan, chief of uniform services, Florida Dept. of Agriculture.



When agriculture law enforcement officers Thomas Gardner and Steve Woods checked the driver’s license, they knew immediately something was amiss. The possibly home computer produced license bore the name of Reynaldo Gonzalez, but one little clue led the officers to suspect it was a fake. Instead of the document saying Florida Driver’s License, it read, Florida Diver’s License.



Gardner measured the inside space in the truck bed, then measured it outside. It was approximately 19 inches longer on the outside, leading officers to suspect there was a hidden compartment inside, Bryan said. Their suspicions paid off and after a Gamma Ray truck was brought in to x-ray the truck, they knew they had been right. When the compartment was removed, there were 10 bales of plastic shrink wrap sealed marijuana with a total weight of 549.2 pounds, Bryan said.



Bryan said the driver later gave two more identifications but so far none of those have checked out either. The marijuana was confiscated with the assistance of the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), all who are currently involved with the FDOA in investigating the case.

The Oklahoma rental truck was confiscated also.



Meanwhile, a man currently identified as Reynaldo Gonzalez, 48, of Houston, TX, is being held in the Suwannee County Jail on charges of trafficking in more than 25 pounds of marijuana, failure to stop for inspection, no valid driver’s license, obstruction by disguise and possession of a fictitious driver’s license. Gonzalez is being held without bond.