JACKSON — A Texas man is behind bars after allegedly trafficking 10 pounds of marijuana into Northampton County.

According to Northampton County Sheriff Wardie P. Vincent, the arrest of Julio Torres Ordonez, 42, of Weslaco, Texas came after two days of surveillance and investigation by his office and other area law enforcement agencies.

Vincent said the investigation began after the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) received information about an individual from Texas coming into the county to deliver marijuana.

He added NCSO drug agents along with NCSO deputies came together with the Seaboard Police Department and the Garysburg Police Department to track the suspect.

The hard work paid off January 6 when the vehicle Ordonez was traveling in was stopped on Highway 46 in Gaston. The sheriff said 10 pounds of marijuana was found in a black bag.

Ordonez was charged with trafficking marijuana, possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana and felony possession of marijuana.

He was placed in the Northampton County Jail on a $75,000 secured bond.

“We thank the agencies involved for working with us,” said Vincent. “We spent many hours on this case and as a result we apprehended the suspect and have taken 10 pounds of marijuana off the street.”