A Wisconsin woman was arrested on felony drug charges Tuesday afternoon after a traffic stop on Interstate 80.
According to online court documents, 52-year-old Margaret Michelle Gnewikow of La Cross, Wisconsin was travelling eastbound on the interstate at around 1:45 p.m. An Iowa State Patrol Trooper observed the vehicle the suspect was driving make two traffic violations, and a stop was initiated near the DeSoto exit at mile marker 110. The trooper noticed several duffel bags and boxes packed into the rear of the SUV, and the accompanying K9 unit gave an indication that it detected narcotics. A probable-cause search was conducted, and the trooper found around 130 pounds of marijuana and 71 pounds of THC vape cartridges in the bags. According to court records, she claimed she was transporting the items from California to Wisconsin for a family member.
Gnewikow was arrested on charges including: possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, a class C felony; failure to affix a drug tax stamp, a class D felony; and prohibited act by registrant, a serious misdemeanor. She is currently being held in Dallas County Jail on $100,000 cash-only bond. Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.