Traffic stop yields 46,000 Ecstasy pills

Published: Nov 19, 2009 at 1:27 PM PST Last Updated: Nov 20, 2009 at 6:02 AM PST
ecstacy drug

Information courtesy of the Portland Police Department

On Wednesday evening at about 12:15 a.m., Portland Police conducted a traffic stop on a pickup truck that was being driven Northbound on Interstate 5 near the Terwilliger Boulevard offramp. 

Uniform officers requested the Portland Police Bureau's drug dog and "Nico" arrived at the scene to assist officers. Nico located 46,000 Ecstasy pills that were hidden in a large truck box located in the bed of the truck.

Investigators from the bureau's Drugs and Vice Division were then called to the scene to assist in the investigation. 

Investigators believe that the large number of pills are worth between $650,000 and $700,000 on the street and that this seizure is the largest in the bureau's history.

The two men arrested have been identified as 39-year-old James Joshua Thompson of Blaine, Washington and 34-year-old Steven Michael Jeter of Kennewick, Washington.

Both subjects were charged with Distribution of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Controlled Substance and are in custody at the downtown Multnomah County Jail.