CARSON COUNTY, TEXAS -- Fifty pounds of marijuana, totaling more than a quarter of a million dollars was seized in a drug bust off Interstate 40 on Tuesday afternoon.

George A. Abarca, 18, and his passenger Jose J. Ruiz-Madrigal, 44, both of Tulare, Calif., were inside a 2012 Nissan Altima when it was stopped by a Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper.

The stop happened one mile west of Conway at about 2:01 p.m.

Troopers said consent to search the vehicle was denied durng the stop. A K-9 unit was then reqeusted.

The drug dog arrived and conducted a free-air sniff that alerted Troopers to a positive alert.

Troopers said 50 vacuum-sealed bags with marijuana inside were located inside the trunk. The marijuana was valued at $272,500.

DPS said the marijuana was being transported from Tulare, Calif., from Tennessee.

Abarca and Ruiz-Madrigal were both arrested for possession of marijuana.