Three university students from Saudi Arabia were arrested Monday and charged with trafficking, according the Rowan County law enforcement officials.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant Monday night, netting an estimated $100,000 worth of cash, illegal narcotics and firearms.
Mohammed Alkhathlan, 25, Haidar Alqallaf, 28, and Ali Sihati, 23, were all arrested at an apartment at 930 Christian Street.
Inside, deputies found ten pounds of marijuana, 1,000 Xanax pills and an unspecified amount prescription cough syrup and cannabis oil.
Rowan County Sheriff Joe Cline said the investigation was sparked by a tip.
“The Morehead Police Department relayed some information that they thought needed follow-up on,” Cline told WMKY. “Through our investigation and interviews, we were able to obtain a search warrant on the apartment.”
Jonathan Garrison and Tobias Jackson, both 25, were also arrested in connection with the bust. Police say Garrison and Jackson were in charge of trafficking the marijuana from Mason County.
Investigators believe the marijuana originally came from a cannabis dispensary in California.
All five are facing felony drug charges, including trafficking more than five pounds of marijuana, which is subject to five to ten years in prison.
Cline added that they may tack on additional charges of trafficking within 1,000 feet of a school.
“This is done right in our community, basically in our back door, right next to campus. We want people to be here for the right reasons. If they’re not here for the right reasons, if they’re here to commit illegal activity, then we’re going to catch them,” he added.
The incident remains under investigation.
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