Officials with the Tennessee Highway Patrol discovered approximately 28 pounds of marijuana inside a vehicle they pulled over for a traffic violation in Putnam County.
The incident happened on July 12 when authorities stopped the vehicle for following another vehicle too closely.
Reports stated the driver, identified as 25-year-old Jonathan Kossa, of Cookeville, seemed nervous to officials, despite being pulled over for a simple violation.
Authorities said they noticed a large cardboard box in the backseat. Kossa told officials he did not know what was in the box when they questioned him. He added he was transporting the box for his roommate.
According to reports, Kossa denied officials the right to search his vehicle when they asked for consent.
Troopers then requested K-9 assistance from the Cookeville Police Department, and the K-9 made a positive alert on Kossa’s vehicle.
A search then uncovered 18 vacuum-sealed packages of marijuana in the box, which added up to approximately 28 pounds.
Authorities confirmed Kossa was taken into custody for possession of schedule VI narcotics for manufacture, sale, and delivery.
