HCSO Interdiction Team Nabs Suspect Transporting California-Shipped Cannabis
TAMPA, Fla. – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has arrested a man after deputies discovered more than 100 pounds of marijuana concealed within a freight crate during a traffic stop on Interstate 4.
On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, HCSO’s Interdiction Criminal Apprehension Team (ICAT) initiated a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Silverado traveling I-4 Westbound near 50th Street North. The driver, identified as 38-year-old Domonic Renalda Smith, was pulled over for multiple traffic violations.
READ: Florida Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence For Steven Wolf In Brutal Marathon Murder
Further investigation revealed that Smith had rented the vehicle approximately 90 minutes prior to the stop, specifically to pick up a large wooden crate from a nearby freight company. A law enforcement K9, trained in narcotics detection, was deployed and alerted deputies to the presence of drugs inside the vehicle.
Upon opening the crate, deputies found 101.3 pounds of marijuana, meticulously packaged in 72 air-sealed plastic bags. Authorities noted that the crate had been shipped from California to the Tampa Bay area, a method consistent with known narcotics trafficking operations.
READ: Florida Supreme Court Affirms Death Sentence In 2009 Murder Of Helen Googe
“This arrest is another example of how our specialized teams are working proactively to stop the flow of illegal drugs into Hillsborough County,” said Sheriff Chronister. “Drug traffickers may think they can hide behind rented vehicles and shipping crates, but our deputies remain steps ahead. We will not tolerate those who attempt to use our roads and neighborhoods as distribution points for dangerous narcotics.”
Smith has been charged with Trafficking in Cannabis (25 to 2,000 pounds).
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
