By Lori EhdeTwo women are in custody at the Prairie Justice Center, Worthington after State Patrol officials seized more than 28 pounds of marijuana from their vehicle near Beaver Creek.Elvira Rangel Gonzalez, 37, Pipestone, and Rosa Loya Prado, 45, Evans, Colo., are awaiting their next court appearance on third-degree controlled substance charges.According to the complaint filed in Rock County District Court, Minnesota State Trooper Gary Nordseth stopped a green Dodge pickup for speeding on May 6 on Highway 23.The traffic stop actually occurred south of Beaver Creek on County Road 17.Acting on suspicious behavior by the driver and passenger, Nordseth requested permission to search the vehicle, which Prado, the driver, granted.Noticing the plastic tray insert on the right rear armrest appeared to be ajar, he removed the insert and found rectangular-shaped bundles wrapped in brown cellophane.Those bundles, 27 bricks of marijuana with a street value of roughly $30,000, were forwarded to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension as evidence.The women were arrested, and when questioned, admitted they planned to sell the truck and the marijuana.If found guilty of the charges, the women face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
