A large amount of drugs were seized in a traffic stop by Picayune Police on Thursday.

As a result of the stop, Walter Taylor Jr., 21, of 204 Hampton Dr. in Slidell, La. was arrested for speeding and two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm, said Picayune Assistant Chief of Police Jeremy Magri.

At 3:03 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, Picayune police officers stopped a red 2006 Nissan Titan at the intersection of South Blanks Avenue and Warren Street for speeding, said Jeremy Magri.

“Upon speaking with the driver, officers were able to smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle,” said Magri.

The officer then asked Taylor to exit the vehicle and conducted a pat down, locating a small plastic bag containing a green, leafy substance the officer believed to be marijuana, said Magri.

“At this point, Taylor was taken into custody,” said Magri.

Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered a pistol in the center console of the truck, as well as a ziploc bag containing numerous smaller, sandwich baggies that are often used to package drugs to sell. While officers were looking under the hood of the vehicle, they observed a piece of a plastic shopping bag sticking out of the air filter box, said Magri.

An investigation of the air filter box revealed a large plastic baggie within the shopping bag containing a green, leafy substance believed to be marijuana, said Magri, who added that a set of digital scales commonly used in the sale of narcotics was also in the shopping bag.

Magri said $945 was also located on Taylor’s person.

Taylor was transported to the Criminal Justice Center where a more thorough search was conducted, at which point a second small bag was discovered in his groin area containing a large amount of Xanax pills, said Magri.

Due to the drug violations, Taylor was charged with two counts of possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm and cited for speeding. The Picayune Police Department seized both his truck and the money due to the charges.