State Police Arrest Indianapolis Man After Finding 349 Pounds of Marijuana in Vehicle
Ladon Fennell Allen, a 43-year-old Indianapolis man, is facing a felony charge after an Indiana State Police trooper discovered twelve suitcases packed with hundreds of vacuum-sealed bags of suspected marijuana during a late-night traffic stop on I-65.
According to court documents, a trooper was traveling southbound on I-65 near the 243 mile marker around 10:40 p.m. on November 14 when he observed a gray minivan drift between lanes inside a construction zone and travel below the posted speed limit. The minivan, displaying Montana registration, crossed the fog line before the trooper initiated a traffic stop at the 241 mile marker.
The trooper approached the vehicle and made contact with the driver, described as a male with dreadlocks and the sole occupant. While speaking with him through the passenger window, the trooper reported smelling a faint odor of raw marijuana coming from inside and noticed a large amount of hard-shell luggage stacked throughout the vehicle. The driver provided an Indiana driver’s license confirming he was Ladon Fennell Allen, 43, of Indianapolis.
Allen reportedly told the trooper he rented the minivan but hesitated when asked where, eventually saying “the airport.” When asked where he was traveling from, Allen paused and replied, “Uhh, California,” stating he had been there for “a few weeks.” The trooper wrote that Allen’s heart rate appeared visibly elevated through his clothing while he sat in the patrol vehicle.
Another trooper arrived, and Allen was informed of the odor coming from the vehicle. Allen denied having marijuana inside but admitted to smoking while in California. The trooper requested an ISP K9, which arrived around 10:52 p.m. The K9 conducted a free-air sniff and alerted to the presence of narcotics.
A search of the minivan revealed twelve suitcases throughout the rear passenger compartment. Inside one suitcase, the trooper located multiple large vacuum-sealed bags containing a green, plant-like substance. Allen was detained, handcuffed, and read his Miranda Rights. He said he understood and declined further questions.
The vehicle was towed to the Indiana State Police Post, where all twelve suitcases were opened. Investigators recovered 349 individual vacuum-sealed bags, each weighing approximately 1.3 pounds, for an estimated total of 349 pounds of suspected marijuana. A field test confirmed the substance. Two iPhones belonging to Allen were also seized.
Charge filed Nov. 15, 2025:
• Dealing in Marijuana; > 10 lbs — Level 5 Felony
Lodged in the Lake County Jail.
