ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — Baldwin County Sheriff’s Deputies uncovered nearly 65 pounds of marijuana from a vehicle with California plates headed east on Interstate 10 near the Alabama-Florida border.

The high-grade marijuana was discovered after deputies detected a “heavy odor” of the substance, following a traffic stop near the 57 mile marker, three miles east of the Wilcox Road exit, eight miles west of the Alabama-Florida state line on Interstate 10, according to a release issued Monday by BCSO Investigations Command.

The driver/vehicle renter, Mario Sanchez, claimed to be traveling from California to Miami to sell olive oil and deliver presents to unestablished clients in the Miami area, according to the release.

“During the stop, a heavy odor of marijuana and a cover agent of fresh coffee was noted,” according to the release. Several clothing items, Christmas items and numerous coffee bags were seen, along with four pelican cases and one duffle bag in the cargo area.

“When asked about the pelican cases, Sanchez stated that he ‘was taking them to an unknown person, for a friend of a friend in California.’”

A probable cause search of the vehicle based on the marijuana odor, revealed approximately 64 pounds of high grade marijuana in vacuum sealed bags covered with coffee beans, inside of the duffle bag and pelican cases.

Baldwin County Drug Task Force Investigators responded to the scene and conducted an interview with Sanchez who stated he was transporting the cases for a male named Brian to an unknown location in Miami for the payment of $2,000. He denied knowledge of the contents of the cases.

Sanchez, 45, whose address is listed as Long Beach, California, was booked into the Baldwin County Corrections Facility Saturday morning, charged with drug trafficking. Records show that he remains in jail on a $300,000 bond. Baldwin County Sheriff Deputies assigned to the Special Operations Unit made the stop and discovery of the contraband.