The Nebraska State Patrol seized approximately 345 pounds of marijuana and made five arrests in three traffic stops over the holiday weekend.

A trooper stopped a 1998 Honda Accord with Illinois plates for following too closely on eastbound I-80 in Sarpy County last Thursday around 11 a.m.

The trooper’s K-9 indicated an odor of drugs coming from the vehicle. A search of the car led to the seizure of 220 pounds of marijuana.

The driver of the vehicle, 31-year-old Lazaro Cuen Alverez of San Jose, California, and a passenger, 30-year-old Gustavo Colunga Luna of Keizer, Oregon, both face charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

A trooper stopped a 2001 GMC with Arizona plates for speeding on eastbound I-80 just east of Grand Island Friday around 3:50 p.m. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 89.7 pounds of marijuana.

The driver, 69-year-old Aurelio Vergara of Glendale, Arizona and a passenger, 59-year-old Maria Vergara also of Glendale, Arizona, each face charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

The third stop, also for speeding, occurred near Kearney on Saturday shortly after 1 p.m. and yielded 35 pounds of pot. A trooper stopped a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix heading eastbound on I-80.

A state patrol canine indicated the odor of drugs coming from the vehicle. The driver, 26-year-old John Eisel IV of Rockville, Maryland, faces charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.