Two men were arrested after being found hauling $36 million worth of marijuana, cannabis and mushroom products in a tractor-trailer that was pulled over on Interstate 78 in New Jersey last week, authorities announced Wednesday.
New Jersey State Police arrested Fnu Attiq Ur-Rahman, 22, and Haffez Rehman Ur, 35, both of Stockton, California, while inspecting the truck, police said.
Investigators found 20,117 pounds of raw hydroponic marijuana, various cannabis-THC products and psilocybin items in the truck, police said.
The discovery was made by the Mobile Safe Freight Unit, a division of the state police that investigates commercial vehicles suspected of being used for criminal activities.
Troopers inspected the truck on Feb. 18 near milepost 6.3 in Greenwich Township, Warren County. Attiq Ur-Rahman was driving at the time, police said.
During the inspection, troopers performed a load securement check, asking to examine how the trailer’s doors were sealed, police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause. After opening the doors, police smelled marijuana and began searching the trailer, police said in their report.
The men owned the company and tractor trailed used to transport the contraband, police said. They told investigators they collected the cargo from City of Industry, area of Los Angeles County in California, and were bound for Sayreville, Middlesex County, police said.
Both men were taken to the Warren County jail. They were charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms.
Prosecutors motioned for both men to remain in jail ahead of trial, a matter argued in court Wednesday, records show. The outcome of those hearings was unclear.
Tara Breslow-Testa, an attorney for Rehman Ur, declined to comment when reached by NJ Advance Media on Wednesday.
Kevin Buchan, an attorney for Attiq Ur-Rahman, did not immediately return a request for comment.
Stories by Eric Conklin
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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.