Traffic Stop On I-75 Leads to Marijuana Trafficking Arrest

GAINESVILLE – A traffic stop on Interstate 75 earlier this month led to the arrest of a 34-year-old man on multiple felony drug charges after detectives discovered dozens of pounds of marijuana inside his vehicle, according to the Gainesville-Alachua County Drug Task Force.

The stop occurred during the afternoon hours of Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, near mile marker 374 on southbound I-75. Authorities said Detective C. Litzkow, assigned to the task force’s Domestic Highway Enforcement Team, stopped a silver Hyundai for a traffic infraction.

The driver, identified as Michael Nguyen, was described as argumentative when the detective made contact. Investigators said Litzkow advised Nguyen that he intended to issue a warning and verify his driver’s license, but Nguyen repeatedly refused to exit the vehicle despite multiple lawful commands.

Nguyen eventually exited the vehicle and was taken into custody on a charge of resisting an officer without violence, authorities said.

A second detective, Det. J. Stadnicki, arrived on scene with a narcotics-trained K-9 named Ozzy, who conducted an open-air sniff around the vehicle. The dog alerted to the odor of illegal narcotics, providing probable cause for a search, investigators said.

During the search, detectives located a large scent-proof duffel bag and a locked suitcase inside the Hyundai. Both containers held numerous vacuum-sealed packages of marijuana with a combined weight of approximately 46 pounds, according to authorities.

As a result of the investigation, Nguyen was charged with trafficking in cannabis in excess of 25 pounds, trafficking drugs while knowingly using a vehicle to transport illegal substances, and resisting an officer without violence.

Nguyen was booked on the felony charges and remains in custody awaiting trial. His bond was set at $75,000, according to jail records.

The case remains under investigation by the Gainesville-Alachua County Drug Task Force.

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