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Authorities intercept $10M in drugs in Sandusky

Sunday, November 08, 2009

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Rebecca Trylch
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SANDUSKY (WJRT) -- (11/08/09) -- Millions of dollars worth of drugs are off the streets tonight after authorities broke up a late night smuggling operation this weekend.

Authorities say they made a $10 million drug bust after a small airplane landed at the Sandusky City Airport in Sanilac County.

Border patrol agents first noticed the small plane in Port Huron and on a hunch, followed it up to Sandusky. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter watched the plane drop seven or eight large bags onto the runway. Authorities say the plane picked up one bag and took off.

Sandusky residents won't soon forget that eventful night, watching from their porches and windows as police combed the city.

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"I heard this big helicopter coming in and it had this big spotlight on," explained Gerrie Herris. "And then it came over the house and just about rumbled the house."

Rumors surfaced that someone had broken out of jail. But the real story was that police found more than 300 pounds of ecstasy and more than 100 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $10 million.

Sanilac County's undersheriff says 32-year-old Matthew Moody and 20-year-old Jesse Rusenstrom were trying to load the bags into a rental vehicle when they spotted the helicopter and fled. They were later arrested, identified as Canadian citizens and were being held in the Sanilac County Jail.

"Kind of funny when you get a guy from the DEA walk into a restaurant in Sandusky and he says, 'You see anybody in camouflage walk in, call 911,'" said Nathan Benavides, shift manager of the West Park Inn where one suspect was apprehended.

Both men face federal drug charges and the eight bags of drugs they tried to smuggle into Sandusky are also in federal custody.

"Can't believe anything like that would even happen around here," said Benavides. "But thankfully everybody was taken care of and nobody was harmed."

The undersheriff says it's his understanding that the airplane that made the drop has not been found.