New York State Police Seize 120 Pounds of Weed and Pound of Fentanyl

A traffic stop on the Northway, Friday afternoon, May 2nd turned into a major drug bust.

New York State Police pulled over a car around 1:50 p.m. in Malta for a basic traffic violation. But when they checked the vehicle, they found something way bigger. Inside was one hundred and twenty pounds of cannabis and over a pound of fentanyl pills.

Street value for the cannabis is approximately $120,000. The fentanyl pills are believed to be worth thousands.

The driver, 58-year-old William M. Buckshot from Hogansburg, was arrested on felony drug charges. He was arraigned and held without bail.

This isn’t the first big bust in the Capital Region this year. In January, cops in Schenectady found thousands of fentanyl pills disguised to look like candy. Last month, a raid in Colonie turned up heroin, cocaine, and loaded guns.

Read More: $100K in Cocaine Seized During Traffic Stop

There’s been a steady push to crack down on drug trafficking in the area. Police say the Northway and the Thruway are common routes for moving drugs between New York City and the Canadian border.

Fentanyl, in particular, has law enforcement on high alert. It’s incredibly powerful; even a small amount can be deadly. That’s why stopping a pound of it from hitting the streets is a big deal.

Authorities say they’re staying aggressive about traffic stops and investigations like this. And based on the last few months, it looks like those efforts are paying off.