State police find 273 pounds of marijuana in minivan after traffic stop near New Stanton

A state police canine helped troopers find 273 pounds of marijuana Monday in a minivan that was traveling in Hempfield, according to court papers.

Troopers said they also confiscated two guns. They filed charges Tuesday against two men — Qingxue Guo, 42, of Texas, and Tingting Huang, 33, who did not have an address listed in court papers.

Both suspects were denied bail and are being held at the Westmoreland County Prison. The drugs have an approximate street value of $400,000, according to Trooper Steve Limani.

A trooper monitoring eastbound traffic Monday on Interstate 70 just before 5:30 p.m. near the New Stanton interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike spotted the minivan, which reportedly had illegal dark window tint, according to court papers.

Police said they stopped the minivan on the turnpike and became suspicious of criminal activity, but Guo, who was driving, refused to let troopers search it.

Knox, a police dog, was brought in and alerted its handler to the presence of narcotics inside the minivan, according to court papers. After it was towed to the Greensburg station and investigators got a search warrant, they reported finding the marijuana and two guns.

Guo and Huang are charged with possession with intent to deliver. Guo is facing additional weapons violations. Police said he did not have a license to carry a concealed firearm. He admitted to owning both of the guns, according to court papers.

Neither suspect had an attorney listed in online court records. Preliminary hearings are set for March 20.