GPS Tracking Leads Police to 360-Pound Stash of Marijuana
FRAMINGHAM, MA – Three men are facing long prison sentences after Massachusetts police seized a massive marijuana shipment with the aid of a GPS tracking system.
The drugs were in a 360-pound crate that had been moved about 24 miles, from Framingham to Norwood. Police believe it has a street value of about $700,000.
Charged with marijuana trafficking on August 17 were: Peter Bryson, 24, of Roxbury, Boston; Paul Bryson, 36, of Dorchester, Boston; and Richardson Rhau, 35, of Milton.
Police had suspected a drug deal was pending and had a business on Beaver Street in Framingham under surveillance. Framingham Police and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration got a search warrant and entered the building about 1 a.m. to find a large crate with what appeared to be marijuana in it. The crate was further divided into a dozen bricks of alleged drugs.
With the consent of the Framingham District Court, authorities placed a real-time GPS tracking device – very similar to those used in vehicle tracking – in the crate and repackaged it.
It didn’t take long before GPS tracking indicated the stash was on the move. Later that morning, police returned to the business and found a man driving away, with the crate in tow.
GPS tracking led police to a warehouse on Kerry Place in Norwood. Surveillance officers observed the three men putting boxes in a van on the loading dock. The men fled, but were later arrested.
GPS tracking technology is heavily used by police. Time and again, vehicle tracking has helped police not only find a suspect, but prove exactly where he is or was at any particular time. Some defendants have challenged vehicle tracking in the courts. The legal system has concluded that placing a vehicle tracking device on the outside of a car does not constitute an invasion of privacy. However the courts in different states have different opinions about whether a warrant is needed prior to placing the vehicle tracking device.
Tags: Framingham, GPS, Marijuana, Norwood, police, Tracking
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