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YORK – Approximately 60 pounds of high grade marijuana were found Tuesday, Dec. 19, during a traffic stop initiated by the York County Sheriff’s Department on Interstate 80 – and the elderly couple transporting it claimed they intended to give it away as Christmas gifts.

Lt. Paul Vrbka with the sheriff’s department said deputies initiated a traffic stop in the Bradshaw area after they saw a Toyota Tacoma going over the center line and the driver failing to signal.

When they stopped the vehicle, he said, deputies could immediately smell the strong odor of raw marijuana.

Vrbka said the county’s canine unit alerted to the presence of a controlled substance and a probable cause search was conducted of the vehicle.

He said the marijuana was found in boxes stored inside the pickup topper.

The marijuana was seized and it is estimated that the street value is $336,000, according to Sgt. Vrbka.

Taken into custody were Patrick Jiron, 80, and Barbara Jiron, 83.

Lt. Vrbka said the two elderly people indicated they were from Clearlake Oaks, Calif., and were headed for Vermont.