Nebraska State Patrol has confiscated over $2.1 million found in a van in the parking lot of a Flying J truckstop at the Gretna Interchange (Exit 432) along I-80 on Tuesday. The money was contained in two suitcases and a backpack containing 40 vacuum-sealed packages.
State troopers searched the van, which the two men who operated the vehicle agreed to, when suspicious activity was observed.
Omaha World-Herald reported that the two men told investigators they rented the van and were traveling from Chicago to California and denied ownership or knowledge of the money.
"The men had no outstanding warrants or criminal activity that would indicate they were involved," Deb Collins, Nebraska State Patrol spokeswoman told Fleet Owner. The men were subsequently released after questioning.
“This is the largest cash seizure in Nebraska State Patrol history,” said Colonel Tom Nesbitt of the Nebraska State Patrol, indicating that the money represents drug profits.
The news does not surprise Nance Harris, spokeswoman of the Nebraska Trucking Association.
“Because Nebraska is a bridge state across the country, patrols do a lot of enforcement along the interstate,” Harris told Fleet Owner, noting that Flying J is a popular truckstop. “Occasionally something of extraordinary quantity— whether it's marijuana or in this case, drug money— does get confiscated.”
Operators of the Flying J truckstop declined to comment.