‘I-80 is a drug pipeline’: Nebraska troopers find nearly 200 pounds of drugs this week

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – After two big drug busts this week, a Nebraska State Patrol lieutenant said troopers train for these situations.

Interstate 80 is one of the hot spots for drug trafficking.

And troopers found nearly 200 pounds worth of drugs this past week in two separate traffic stops on I-80.

Troopers pulled over a driver in central Nebraska. They said they found 85 pounds of marijuana stashed in trash bags in the trunk.

And in a separate traffic stop, troopers said they discovered 110 pounds of meth hidden in suitcases in the trunk of a vehicle.

Lt. Paul Jacobson said he was shocked to hear about the sheer amount of drugs.

“I know through training and experience, I-80 is a drug pipeline from West Coast to East Coast,” he said. “So it’s not surprising that it’s out there, but the amount is surprising that they had in that car.”

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While these are some staggering numbers, Jacobson said it’s not uncommon on I-80.

Tens of thousands of drivers use the interstate every day in the Lincoln area, according to the Department of Transportation.

The Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, also known as HIDTA, is a group of agencies that studies the movement of drugs in Nebraska and surrounding states.

One of the Midwest HIDTA’s reports shows that in 2023, there were more than 1,000 drug trafficking organizations in the region, with more than 8,500 members.

Most of the drugs found were being transported in privately owned vehicles.

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“I always think for every one that we catch, there’s probably several that get by,” Jacobson said.

He said many of the “bad guys” train on how to remain undetected while smuggling drugs.

Jacobson said while there’s always more that can be done, drug busts like the ones this week show that troopers’ training is paying off.

“When something like this gets across the state, all of the troopers see it, and it’s a win,” he said. “It’s a win for our agency, it’s a win for Nebraska, for the citizens.”

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