Traffic stop leads to drug arrest

Over the weekend, Olive Branch police recovered 376 pounds of marijuana valued at nearly $1 million in a traffic stop.  

According to a news release from the city, an Olive Branch police officer early Sunday morning conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle with California license plates. The traffic stop was done on Hacks Cross near U.S. Highway 78. 

During the traffic stop, the officer conducted a search of the vehicle, discovered and seized the marijuana that has an estimated street value of $975,000.  

Police Chief Bill Cox Monday afternoon informed DeSoto County News that Varuzhan Arabadjian, age 35, of Van Nuys, California,  was arrested and charged with trafficking in controlled substances for the 376 pounds of marijuana discovered in his vehicle during a traffic stop for careless driving. He was booked into the DeSoto County Adult Detention Center on Sunday afternoon and remains held there on $1 million bond.

A Nov. 16 court date has been set for Arabadjian in the case.