Calif. man busted with $330K in weed wrapped as Christmas presents

MILLBURY, Ohio, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Ohio state troopers arrested a California man with a truck stuffed full of marijuana wrapped to look like Christmas presents.

Troopers pulled over Daniel Yates, 31, of Eureka, Calif., on Wednesday for following too closely. The trunk and back seat of a rented Ford Expedition was packed with boxes wrapped to look like Christmas presents. A drug-sniffing police dog alerted troopers to the contents.

Once unwrapped, officers found approximately 71 pounds of marijuana, 360 THC pills and a pound of hash wax oil. The haul's estimated street value was $330,000.

Yates was charged with drug possession and trafficking, both felonies. If convicted, he faces up to 16 years in prison and up to a $30,000 fine.