A routine speeding stop in Trumann turned into a major drug bust on Tuesday, when deputies say they pulled over a Ford Focus and found multiple pounds of illegal drugs inside. According to investigators, the search turned up about 3 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.5 pounds of marijuana, roughly 21 grams of cocaine, and 30 hydrocodone pills. The driver, identified as 51-year-old Steven Allen Stracener of Trumann, now faces drug trafficking and related charges.
The Poinsett County Sheriff's Office told WREG that deputies initially stopped the Ford Focus for speeding in the Trumann area. They reported seeing marijuana on the passenger seat, which led to a search of the vehicle. The Harrisburg Police Department assisted at the scene, and deputies say they also found drug paraphernalia before taking Stracener into custody.
Per the Poinsett County Sheriff's Office, Stracener was arrested and charged with trafficking a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a Schedule I or II controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine or cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and speeding. The office identified him as a Trumann resident and said the case remains under active investigation.
Seizure details
Deputies said most of the drugs were located inside the Ford Focus during the on-scene search. Quantities reported include about 3 pounds of methamphetamine and 1.5 pounds of marijuana, along with roughly 21 grams of cocaine and 30 hydrocodone pills, according to WREG. Investigators also recovered drug paraphernalia and characterized the haul as significant enough to support distribution-level charges rather than simple possession.
Regional enforcement focus
Large, multi-pound meth seizures have drawn coordinated law enforcement attention in northeast Arkansas in recent years. A federal OCDETF sweep in February 2025 targeted multi-pound meth trafficking in the region and led to numerous arrests, the U.S. Department of Justice reported, highlighting ongoing efforts to disrupt higher-level distributors in and around Poinsett County.
Legal next steps
Stracener has been booked into the Poinsett County Detention Center and is expected to appear for arraignment in county court, the sheriff's office said. Trafficking and possession with intent to deliver are felony counts that carry significant penalties under Arkansas law, and prosecutors may consider additional charges as investigators continue to sort through the case.
The sheriff's office is asking anyone with information about the traffic stop or the suspected distribution activity to contact investigators. Residents with tips can reach the Poinsett County Sheriff's Office at 870-578-2116.
