A 20-year-old Gardnerville man with $6,000 in his pocket was removed from airplane at Reno-Tahoe International Airport shortly before takeoff Thursday and charged with sales of a controlled substance.
Antonio Bagala is accused of selling more than 5 ounces of marijuana to undercover officers.
Officers from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Street Enforcement Team believe he was on his way to Southern California with cash from marijuana sales in Carson Valley.
On Thursday, investigators from Douglas County and the Tri-NET Task Force searched Bagala's home in the 1300 block of Cahi Circle in Gardnerville where they recovered another 5 ounces of marijuana.
When officers arrived at the residence, they learned Bagala was enroute to Reno for a flight to Southern California.
Douglas officers coordinated with Reno airport police and the suspect was arrested while seated on the airplane prior to takeoff.
The search warrant was the culmination of a month-long investigation into Bagala's alleged marijuana distribution activities.
Earlier this year, Bagala was arrested in Washoe County for possession of cocaine for sale. He was on probation for the Washoe County arrest when he came to the attention of Douglas authorities for allegedly selling marijuana locally.
Bagala was returned to Douglas County jail and booked on two counts of sales of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and for violating his Washoe County probation.
He has a no-bail hold from Nevada Parole and Probation.
