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K-9s Credited For 2 Large Marijuana Busts, Deputies Believe Pot Was Headed Out-Of-State

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (CBS4) - Multiple suspects are in custody for allegedly trying to take large amounts of marijuana out-of-state thanks to the work of two K-9s with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

According to a post on the sheriff's office's Facebook page, 50 pounds of marijuana were seized thanks to the dogs.

dougco drug dog1 from dougco so
(credit: Douglas County Sheriff's Office)

In one incident deputies made a traffic stop on Dec. 27 and K-9 Atlas was deployed and sniffed out 30 pounds of marijuana during the vehicle search.

Then on Jan. 6 deputies stopped another vehicle for a traffic violation and K-9 Colt was alerted to 20 pounds of marijuana in the back of the car.

dougco drug dog2 from dougco so
(credit: Douglas County Sheriff's Office)

The sheriff's office says the incidents don't appear to be related.

"Our K-9s are purchased by Friends of Douglas County K-9 and are donated to the sheriff's office. They are purchased from Vohne Liche Kennels where they and their handlers spend many hours training. Our K-9's are trained apprehension and drug detection dogs," the Facebook post states.

Elliott Seaton
Elliott Seaton (credit: Douglas County Sheriff's Office)

One of those in custody has been identified as Elliott Seaton. The sheriff's office said Seaton simply had trash bags full of marijuana sitting in the back seat of his vehicle.

"During the course of the investigation, talking to the occupants of the vehicle we were able to kind of find out some stuff. The second vehicle that was contacted on Jan. 6, the marijuana was packaged in one-pound packages," Sgt. Lori Bronner with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said. "Twenty pounds is more than most people consume. In the manner in which it was distributed, where the persons were coming from and the states they were going back to it's not legal for marijuana to be sold there."

RELATED STORIES: Marijuana Legalization Story Archive

The sheriff's office wouldn't release information about which states they believe the marijuana was heading to. Nor have the released the names of the others who are in custody.

Deputies estimate the street value of the marijuana seized is approximately $100,000.

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