Traffic stop nets 21 lbs. of marijuana | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

With little more than a year on the job, the trooper found 21.6 pound of marijuana in the trunk of a rented 2008 Buick Lacrosse he pulled over for speeding on Route 100 in Hanover.

He arrested Zarentee Antonio Roberts, 34, of Glen Burnie charging him with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute it, and other crimes. The marijuana has a street value of $84,000.

"It's a really good feeling for me. I'm a relatively new trooper. I love coming to work and this is why I do it," said Trooper Hodgin, 24.

The bust comes as the barracks on Aviation Boulevard is about to increase its responsibilities. Troopers from the Annapolis barracks will move to Glen Burnie after the facility there closes.

And the bust is the latest in a recent series of drug seizures made in the county.

In April, county police charged four men and a woman after finding more than $80,000 worth of cocaine in a Linthicum home. Two months earlier, three employees of an Annapolis-area hotel were charged with importing $450,000 worth of cocaine to the county as part of a large cocaine-dealing scheme.

Trooper Hodgin stopped Mr. Roberts for speeding on eastbound Route 100 near Arundel Mills mall just before the exit for Route 170.

After discovering the Buick was a rental car, he checked with the rental company and found that Mr. Roberts was not listed on the rental agreement.

Trooper Hodgin checked the vehicle to make sure all its parts, including the spare tire, were intact.

Upon opening the trunk the trooper said he detected a strong odor of marijuana. That gave him reason enough to conduct a search.

In the trunk he found a silver Nordstrom bag and a toddler's learning system with a black bag sticking out of it. Both contained marijuana. The search also turned up $3,278 in cash.

Mr. Roberts was charged with possession with intent to distribute, simple possession, and possession of paraphernalia.

"We know that illegal drugs are being transported on the highways and troopers during their traffic stops are always aware of that. They are out there enforcing traffic laws and these are secondary things that pop up," said Lt. Kevin Hickey, commander of the barracks.

No one at the barracks had heard of a drug bust this size within the past year.

"I'm just glad we got it off the streets before we had people buying it," Trooper Hodgin said.