Five are in custody after Atchison Kansas Police intercepted a drug trafficking exchange at the Amelia Earhart Airport.

Police developed a lead that an exchange was expected sometime Wednesday afternoon.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson says they started surveillance late in the afternoon and observed a plane of interest around 6pm.

Police seized 42 pounds of high-grade marijuana, a 1952 Beechcraft airplane and an 2008 SAAB vehicle. Three people in the aircraft and two in the car were all taken into custody for possession with the intent to distribute.

“We believe from the investigation so far, that the marijuana was transported here by aircraft from Colorado, it was intended to be transported then to Kansas City Missouri before we intercepted it here at our airport.”

Wilson says when police made the arrest they were very prepared.

Four have given police addresses from Colorado, and the fifth suspect gave police a Kansas City address.

The investigation is ongoing. Chief Wilson expected charges to be formally filed sometime today.