Heflin police found 490 pounds of marijuana in a van officers stopped on Interstate 20 Monday morning, according to the department’s chief.

Officers Josh Hardeman and Cory Ligon pulled over an unmarked white rental van eastbound on Interstate 20 near exit 199 for improper lane usage about 4 a.m., according to Capt. A.J. Benefield, interim chief of police.

Hardeman received permission from the driver to search the van and found the marijuana in plastic-wrapped cubes, Benefield said.

Drivers often give police permission to search vehicles, thinking the officers then won’t want to, said Hardeman.

“Playing mind tricks,” Hardeman said.

The officers arrested the driver and charged him with drug trafficking. They called the Calhoun-Cleburne County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force for backup.

Benefield wouldn’t release any more details because officers were still investigating, he said. More information should be coming Tuesday, Benefield said.

The marijuana is worth approximately $490,000, Benefield said. But it would be worth more than twice that after being broken down into portions for sale, he added.

The task force will store the drugs until the driver’s court date and then they will be destroyed, Benefield said.

Benefield said Monday afternoon the arrested driver’s bond had been set at $1 million.

Staff writer Laura Camper: 256-235-3545. On Twitter @LCamper_Star.