In July 2024 the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics focused its attention on busy 1-40 in and around Tiger Mountain in northwest McIntosh County.

About a dozen suspects were arrested, several hundred pounds of marijuana was confiscated.

After a year, several cases have been resolved, some are pending, others are awaiting a resolution.

A bench warrant has been issued for a California man charged with drug trafficking.

Yangwu Zhao, 37, of El Monte, Calif., failed to appear at a court hearing last week, July 31.

Zhao and Siwei Deng, 36, of Glendora, Calif., were arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop on I-40 near Tiger Mountain.

Deng has pled not guilty to aggravated trafficking in illegal drugs and is set for a sounding docket on Sept. 26 at 9 a.m., at which time a trial date will be determined.

When the pair were stopped for failing to maintain the proper lane, two cardboard boxes were discovered. Each box contained 25 one-pound boxes of marijuana.

Jermaine Deangelo Lambert, 35, of Oklahoma City was stopped on July 16, 2024 at Mile Marker 259 for following too closely.

The officer making the stop stated he smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the 2016 Dodge pickup and with the aid of a K9 officer, discovered 100 pounds of the drug hidden under large sacks of chicken feed in the bed of the vehicle.

This past July 9 he pled guilty to drug trafficking, was fined $10,000 and court costs and given a 10-year suspended sentence.

On July 30, 2024, Ashley Lynn Sassenberger, 26, of Hesperia, Calif., and Ericnho Palacios, 31, of Corona, Calif., were eastbound on I-40 when OBN agents stopped them for speeding.

Investigators smelled a heavy odor of marijuana and upon investigation found two suitcases containing 30 bundles of the substance.

The two suspects have been charged in Mc-Intosh County District Court with drug trafficking.

Following a preliminary hearing on Dec. 4, 2024, Sassenberger was bound over for trial, which is yet to happen.

A status hearing is scheduled for her on Sept. 25.

Palacios waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Nov. 24, 2024.

After the court approved several motions for continuances in the case, a status hearing is set for 9 a.m., Aug. 21, Bruce Zang Xiong, 56, of Minneapolis, Minn., was arrested on July 22 in the same general location as the other arrests on I-40.

After stopping a Toyota Tacoma for making an improper lane change, the office allegedly smelled marijuana.

A K9 found two large black trash bags in the bed of the truck. Each bag contained 20 onepound bags of marijuana.

This past Jan. 15, Xiong waived his right to a preliminary hearing and he was placed on a Sept. 26 sounding docket.

Bruce Zang Xiong, 56, of Minneapolis, Minn., was arrested on July 22 in the same general location on I-40.

The arresting officer observed a Toyota Tacoma making an improper lane change and stopped to issue a citation.

After making the stop, the officer smelled a heavy aroma of marijuana. A K-9 found two large black trash bags in the bed of the truck. Each bag contained 20 one-pound bags of marijuana.

Xiong’s bond was set at $75,000. His next court appearance will be at 9 a.m., Aug. 21.