Two Clinton men have been arrested on drug charges after a deputy with the Sampson County Criminal Interdiction Team stopped a van on I-40 for a minor traffic infraction.

The stop turned up approximately six pounds of marijuana and several thousand dollars in cash.

The driver of the vehicle, Timothy Damon Parker, 33, of 203 Trappers Run Lane, Clinton, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana; maintaining a vehicle for the sell/storage of a controlled substance; and possession of drug paraphernalia. Parker was placed in the Sampson County Detention Center under a $15,000 bond. He is expected to appear in court today.

The passenger in the vehicle, Homer Allen Faison III, 31, of 305 E. Butler Ave., Clinton, was charged with possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Faison was placed in the Sampson County Detention Center under a $10,000 bond and is expected to make a first court appearance today.

According to reports, the CIT deputy stopped Parker’s 1999 Oldsmobile van on I- 40 near the 341 mile marker around 4 p.m. Wednesday. During the stop, the deputy noticed suspicious behavior on the part of the two suspects. Other officers were called, and a Sheriff’s K9 unit alerted on the vehicle during the course of the traffic stop, uncovering the drugs and cash.

The bust is the second in just over a week on I-40. On Aug. 24, a routine stop by Deputy Brad Douglass near the 351 mile marker turned up 9.1 pounds of heroin with a street value of approximately $720,000. It was the second largest heroin seizure in the state’s history.

Raphael Walter Rogers, age 59, of Wilmington, was arrested and charged with trafficking heroin by possession and trafficking heroin by transport.

The bust also spurred Wimington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous to praise Douglass’s work in a letter to Sheriff Jimmy Thornton.

Thornton said Thursday he was proud of his employees.

“This is the second big drug bust in a week that we have gotten from the team working I-40,” he said. “It is a good thing. These are drugs that cannot find their way into the hands of our children, and we are going to keep at it.”

According to the North Carolina Department of Corrections, Faison has previous convictions dating back to August 1999. Parker is not listed.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@heartlandpublications.com.