A routine traffic stop on Interstate 55 early Wednesday morningput four Michigan residents in the Copiah County Jail after 90pounds of marijuana was found in the back of the vehicle, lawenforcement officials said.

Lavita Washington, 25, Clifton Logan, 28, James Russell, 31, andLarry Wiley, 28, all of Kalamazoo, Mich., have been charged withpossession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Washington wasalso given a misdemeanor traffic citation for the violation thatprompted the stop, said Copiah County Chief Deputy TonyHemphill.

The four are being held in the Copiah County Jail until apreliminary hearing can determine bond. A hearing will be heldtoday or Friday, the chief deputy said.

Hemphill said K-9 Deputy Chad O’Quinn stopped the 2006 Pontiacsports utility vehicle at 3:45 a.m. Wednesday for a trafficviolation. When O’Quinn went to the vehicle, his dog, Rex, alertedon the vehicle.

A search found the marijuana in an open cardboard box in theback of the vehicle, Hemphill said.

The group was returning to Michigan from a trip to Houston, hesaid.