Jeffersontown police recover 2,000 pounds of marijuana, arrest 5 after large-scale bust

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Police in Jeffersontown say they've arrested five men who were involved in a large-scale marijuana ring.

Investigators seized 2,000 pounds of marijuana, several firearms and a large amount of cash, according to court documents.

Police said on Tuesday, shortly before 6 p.m., officers stopped the five men leaving a location in the 1600 block of Ellwood Avenue. That's located between Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue in the Tyler Park neighborhood.

Investigators said those five men were 44-year-old Miguel Suarez Sr, 24-year-old Miguel Suarez Jr., 24-year-old Eduardo Rojas-Garcia, 44-year-old Manny Medina and 23-year-old Brian Chacon.

Police said they were carrying a large amount of cash when they were arrested, and investigators believe they were involved in a criminal syndicate that has been trafficking large amounts of marijuana for several months.

Witnesses who live in the area said the arrests actually happened in the parking lot of a gas station at Bardstown and Grinstead Road.

"Picked my mouth off the floor. I mean, you just don't see something like that," Randy Haynes said.

"It was pretty crazy. I've never seen anything like that," James Zornes said. "Walked right away. I was like, okay, let them do their job."

According to court documents, officers with the Jeffersontown Police Department, as well as the Bardstown Police Department, then executed a search warrant at the Ellwood Avenue address, as well as a nearby apartment in the 1100 block of Bardstown Road, right across from the gas station.

During the search, detectives allegedly uncovered 2,000 pounds of marijuana, several handguns, two rifles, a shotgun and a large sum of currency.

All five are charged with enhanced engaging in organized crime and enhanced trafficking in marijuana in an amount of more than five pounds.

They are currently being held in Louisville Metro Corrections.