Federal agents took two people into custody in connection with the event Tuesday night, but the U.S. Attorney’s Office would not elaborate any further.
A source tells 5NEWS local and federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, participated in the drug bust after the plane flew into Springdale Municipal Airport at about 10 p.m.
The plane was carrying up to 150 pounds of marijuana, the source said. The craft’s tail number indicates it is registered to an Oregon resident.
This is not the first big drug bust this year involving federal agents in Northwest Arkansas. Sixteen people were arrested in March and charged with money laundering, meth distribution and conspiracy to distribute drugs, in a Springdale bust known as Operation La Pantera Negra. Investigators seized more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine worth millions of dollars.
Police said Northwest Arkansas is considered a hub for drug traffickers because they can use local interstates to travel quickly to larger cities such as St. Louis, Tulsa and Kansas City.