Driver stopped with 307 pounds of pot near Cedar City

CEDAR CITY, Utah — A Utah Highway trooper foiled a shipment of more than 300 pounds of pot at a traffic stop on I-15 near Cedar City.

According to court documents the trooper pulled over a Ford Transit van at approximately 5 p.m. Monday after noticing it was closely following a tractor-trailer on Interstate 15.

Quinton Anthony Ranford, 30, of Ohio, was driving the vehicle according to a court affidavit. The trooper also noted a cell phone mounted on the windshield immediately in Ranford’s view the document stated.

The trooper said as he approached the car Ranford had removed the cell phone.

“I asked him what he was transporting and he provided me paperwork for hemp that appeared to be fake,” the trooper stated in the document.

Ranford consented to a vehicle search.

“I opened one of the barrels in the back and found that it possessed packages that appeared to be marijuana.”

The document said the pot was confiscated and Randal was taken to the Iron County Jail. Once at the jail the trooper said they confirmed the load contained 307 pounds of marijuana.

The document also said the trooper found “some personal use” marijuana.

The trooper booked Ranford for possession of marijuana over 100 pounds, a felony, as well as possession of marijuana, paraphernalia, and having an obstructed view, according to the court document.

Ranford is from Ohio and has no Utah contacts. The document said he was recently arrested for distribution.