City of Laurel Police Chief Richard McLaughlin announced that on Friday, December 6, 2013, members of the Laurel Police Department Drug Interdiction Task Force identified suspicious activity in and around the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Express, located in the 14400 block of Laurel Place, in Laurel.  As part of the investigation, a canine scan detected the presence of drugs and possible narcotics.

Laurel Police officers were able to identify and locate a suspect in the immediate area.  He was detained by the Laurel Police for questioning.  As the investigation continued, an associated hotel room at the Holiday Inn Express was sealed and several vehicles were impounded, pending the execution of a search and seizure warrant(s).

As a result of the investigation and the resultant search, one-hundred and eighty (180) pounds of marijuana (wrapped in one pound individual packages) were recovered.  Laurel Police Investigators believe the ‘street value’ of the marijuana is over half a million dollars or approximately five hundred and forty thousand dollars ($540,000).

Laurel Police have charged Victor Camarillo, age 30, of Henderson, Nevada, for his involvement.  Mr. Camarillo is charged through the State of Maryland with Possession with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana (Large Amount) and Importing a controlled Dangerous Substance, Marijuana, into the State of Maryland.  Other charges are pending.  The Baltimore office of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has been notified.