Ten Tons of Drugs Siezed

(DAWSON COUNTY, Neb.) — Nebraska State Patrol troopers seized nearly 20,000 pounds of drugs and recovered a semi-trailer loaded with stolen merchandise during two separate traffic stops in Dawson County this month.

The first seizure occurred September 4, 2026 when a trooper stopped a semitrailer near mile marker 228 on Interstate 80. During a commercial vehicle inspection, the trooper detected the odor of marijuana.

A subsequent search uncovered 27 pallets containing approximately 5,200 pounds of marijuana, 13,600 pounds of THC products and 1,000 pounds of psilocybin products. The estimated street value of the drugs is more than $50 million. NSP said it believes the seizure is the largest volume drug interdiction in the agency’s history.

William Gomez, 44, of Virginia, was arrested on suspicion of possession of controlled substances and possession with intent to deliver. He was lodged in the Dawson County Jail.

The second investigation began September 9 after NSP received information that a semitrailer may be transporting approximately $250,000 worth of stolen professional speaker equipment. A trooper located the truck at a truck stop near Gothenburg and discovered false commercial delivery paperwork.

A search warrant was later obtained for the trailer. Troopers found high-end commercial speakers along with miscellaneous merchandise destined for Walmart facilities in Florida. Investigators determined the items had been stolen from Illinois and New York.

The driver, identified as Ashwani Kumar through a New Jersey non-domicile commercial driver’s license, was placed out of service but later left the scene. An arrest warrant has been issued for Kumar.

“The Nebraska State Patrol is a tremendous law enforcement agency,” Gov. Jim Pillen said, praising troopers for their work in both cases.

NSP Superintendent Col. Bryan Waugh said the investigations demonstrate the importance of troopers looking beyond the initial reason for a traffic stop.

“These two investigations are excellent examples of troopers looking beyond the initial traffic stop for indicators of criminal activity,” Waugh said.

Both investigations remain ongoing.