A routine traffic stop in Kodiak led to the uncovering of a  teen-aged drug trafficking operation in the city late last week.

It was on Thursday that troopers pulled over a 1997 Honda Civic for no front license plate as the vehicle was traveling southbound on Mill Bay Road. During the stop, it was found that 18-year-old Dakota Benton was in possession of marijuana within 500 feet of the Kodiak Middle School. He was also found to be without vehicle insurance. As a result, Benton was issued a citation and released from the scene on his own recognizance. But, because of the possession within 500 feet of the school, Benton’s vehicle was impounded pending the issuance of a search warrant.

Upon receipt of the warrant, troopers further investigated the vehicle and found that the vehicle contained 17 grams of marijuana, LSD, Methamphetamine, Xanax pills, alcohol, $238 in cash and other drug paraphernalia that pointed toward the sale and trafficking of illegal narcotics.

Following the search of the vehicle, troopers applied for and received two additional search warrants for two residences in Kodiak. When Alaska Wildlife Troopers, State Troopers and the Kodiak Police Department carried out the searches, they once again made contact with Benton as well as a 17-year-old juvenile.

When investigators contacted the 17-year-old, they found the teen to be in possession of a psilocybin mushroom grow operation, 3.5 gram s of marijuana, alcohol, $651 in cash, and drug paraphernalia indicative of sale and trafficking. The juvenile was also found to be in possession of a handgun according to the trooper dispatch.

At the close of the investigation, Benton was arrested and charged with four counts of Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance III, five counts of MICS IV, two counts of MICS V, and minor in possession of alcohol. Benton was transported to the Kodiak Jail where he was remanded and held without bail pending arraignment.

After consulting the Division of Juvenile Justice, the 17-year-old teen was arrested and charged with Theft II, MICS V and VI, and being a minor in possession of alcohol. The teen was also held without bail.

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