Police uncover 146 lbs. of pot at I-40 checkpoint

By Leslie Wood
Staff writer

GALLUP —Two motorists were arrested on drug charges during the latest New Mexico State Police and Motor Transportation Division DWI checkpoint.

Susan Nichols, 44, and Demarco Fierson, 27, were booked into the McKinley County Adult Detention Center on March 21 on charges of transporting marijuana. Officers found 146 pounds of marijuana inside the pair’s Chevy Malibu as they passed through the DWI checkpoint on Interstate Highway 40 near Gallup at about 4 p.m.

An agency K-9 reportedly indicated something suspicious inside the vehicle, and officers found the contraband during a search of the vehicle at a secondary location. Nichols and Fierson are not from the area. Their places of residence were not immediately available.

No drunken driving arrests were made during the roadblock; however, the following citations were issued:

• Two seat belt citations;
• Three child restraint citations;
• Four misdemeanor bench warrants;
• Six citations for no insurance;
• One citation for speeding;
• 66 other citations;
• Two felony arrests related to the narcotics load.

Capt. Dominique Pargas of the New Mexico State Police said the agencies will conduct a similar operation in April.