NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Leesburg, GA, June 6, 2026 — A routine traffic stop in southwest Georgia led to the seizure of more than 100 pounds of suspected marijuana and the arrest of an Atlanta woman on drug trafficking charges, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said Deputy Aaron Parker stopped a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on U.S. Highway 19 South on May 27. During the traffic stop, the driver, identified as 30-year-old Sobiya Samreen Ali of Atlanta, allegedly displayed signs of impairment and was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence.
While conducting an inventory search of the vehicle before it was towed, deputies discovered multiple sealed cardboard boxes located throughout the vehicle. Investigators said the boxes contained numerous vacuum-sealed packages of a green leafy substance that field-tested positive for marijuana.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies seized approximately 102 pounds of suspected marijuana, U.S. currency, a cellular telephone, and the vehicle involved in the incident.
Officials said the suspected marijuana was packaged in 102 individually vacuum-sealed bags weighing approximately one pound each. Samples have been submitted to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Laboratory for confirmation and further analysis.
Ali was transported to the Lee County Jail and charged with trafficking in marijuana and driving under the influence of alcohol. Authorities said additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues.
Jail records show that Ali was released from custody on May 29 after posting a $202,500 bond.
Lee County Sheriff Reggie D. Rachals said the case highlights the broader public safety role of traffic enforcement.
“Traffic enforcement is about far more than speeding citations and traffic violations,” Rachals said in a statement. “Every day, deputies encounter individuals transporting illegal narcotics, carrying illegal weapons, driving impaired, or committing other crimes. This seizure demonstrates how proactive enforcement efforts on our roadways can uncover significant criminal activity and prevent illegal drugs from reaching our communities.”
The sheriff said deputies would continue proactive enforcement efforts throughout the county.
Investigators have not disclosed where the suspected marijuana originated or its intended destination. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains active and that additional arrests or charges could result as authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the transportation of the narcotics through southwest Georgia.
Cover photo courtesy: Lee County Sheriff’s Department/Facebook.
