TENNESSEE – Officials in the US state of Tennessee have seized more than 28 pounds of pot and charged three people during a drug bust this week.

One of the three charged told Knox County authorities he sells marijuana “because it is legal in most states,” according to records.

Knoxville News Sentinel reported the raid began with a traffic stop shortly after noon on Wednesday (local time). 35-year-old Knoxville resident Khanh Vy Nguyen was stopped for disregarding a stop sign at the corner of Crippen and Aquamarine roads in Halls.

According to the local newspaper, a Knox County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) narcotics detective then claimed to have smelled marijuana coming from Nguyen’s car.

Arrest warrants state that a subsequent search by a police dog discovered two large bags containing 12 1-pound packages of suspected marijuana, along with digital scales and an unspecified “large sum of US currency.”

“Nguyen stated that he was carrying the large quantity of marijuana to sell it to someone, but would not state who,” the warrants read. “Nguyen stated that he quit his job two years ago to make a little money selling marijuana. Nguyen also stated that he sells marijuana because it is legal in most states.”

It’s reported that KCSO’s Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant five hours later, on a home at 8201 Richland Colony Road in West Knox County.

Arrest warrants stated that local officers spotted Vuong Vy Nguyen, 32, loading a shoebox stuffed with an unspecified “large sum” of cash into the trunk of a vehicle.

Inside the house, authorities opened a safe containing another unspecified large sum of cash, along with a “ledger book showing money owed and money paid out,” the warrants read. In the same room, officers seized approximately 16 pounds of pot, warrants state.

In the garage, officers also found digital scales, vacuum-sealing equipment, packaging materials and another five ounces of suspected marijuana.

Yet another unspecified large sum of cash was found in an upstairs bedroom, according to the warrants.

Vuong Nguyen and Hoang Anne Nguyen, 35, both of Knoxville, were arrested at the house.

Knoxville News Sentiel reports the three arrestees have each been charged with one count of felony possession of Schedule VI drugs.

On Thursday, the three were released on bond pending an arraignment June 9.