In a sizable drug haul in Jacksonville's Westside, law enforcement officers seized nearly 70 pounds of marijuana following a shooting incident last week. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) disclosed the bust, which also involved recovering firearms and a substantial sum of money, according to information published on the JSO's official website.
Initial reports came in the evening of February 11, after multiple shots were heard in the vicinity of Wilcox Street and West 5th Street. JSO patrol officers arriving at the scene encountered Benwah Wilson’s residence, pockmarked with bullet holes. Conducting a protective sweep, officers found a considerable stash of marijuana, about 68.48 pounds, in plain view, amidst the house riddled with bullet damage.
JSO's Narcotics Unit detectives were later brought in to execute a search warrant at the property. Their search yielded not only the large quantity of marijuana, but also a Glock handgun, a rifle, and over $2,000 in cash. These items, linked to the sale and distribution of narcotics, added weight to the charges against the occupant of the home.
Currently held responsible for the contraband is 25-year-old Benwah Wilson, who, with a prior felony conviction, is facing a string of new felony charges, including Trafficking in Marijuana, Possession of Felony Paraphernalia, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Knowingly Renting a Structure for the Sale of Narcotics. After the finding the weapons and drugs, Wilson’s legal troubles have significantly compounded.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office continues its efforts in clamping down on narcotics distribution, an endeavor that often intersects with the proliferation of illegal firearms in the community.
