Record drug bust made on Greyhound bus

A Greyhound bus that stopped at the Pilot truck stop in north Corbin last Wednesday yielded a record drug bust of nearly 10 pounds of methamphetamine for Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies.

Deputies arrested Katelynne M. Thomas, 30, of Ithaca, New York, and a 17-year-old juvenile from Brooktondale, New York, in connection with the drugs, 15 firearms, and approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills that police say were en route from Atlanta, Georgia, to Syracuse, New York.

According to the arrest citation, at approximately 9:30 a.m. deputies received an anonymous tip that passengers on the bus were in possession of illegal substances.

Detective Allen Turner along with Deputy Jamie Etherton made contact with the driver and passenger and received consent to search the bus by use of a K-9.

“When everyone was exiting the bus, (Thomas) walked to the restroom and stayed for approximately two minutes before exiting off the bus,” Turner wrote in the arrest citation noting that during the search K-9 “Maverick” alerted to the presence of drugs in the bathroom trash can and a bag that Thomas had in her seat.

Upon further search, deputies located a small bag of meth in the bathroom.

Upon searching Thomas’ luggage, deputies located the methamphetamine, along with the firearms and Fentanyl pills.

The methamphetamine totaled approximately nine-and-a-half pounds, according to Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the department’s public affairs officer.

Four of the firearms had been reported stolen.

“It is believed that the drugs are cartel-related and were being moved from Atlanta, Georgia, to Syracuse, New York, by the two suspects who were traveling through Laurel County and were intercepted by Laurel County Sheriff’s investigators,” Acciardo said.

Acciardo said the previous record for seizure of methamphetamine in a single incident was five pounds.

The investigation is continuing and Acciardo said additional arrests are expected.

Thomas was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.

The juvenile was turned over to the court designated worker for disposition.