BAYOU VISTA – Deputies arrested two men and seized more than 20 pounds of marijuana in Bayou Vista on Friday morning. 

St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office deputies and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's drug agents conducted the arrests following a joint investigation. Agents collected evidence that 29-year-old Brandon Boykin and 54-year-old Keith Rhodes were engaged in illegal drug activity.

Early Friday morning, a deputy saw two vehicles conducting a "suspicious interaction" in the parking lot of a business off of Highway 90 in Bayou Vista, the sheriff's office says. The deputy then saw a second interaction on Mars Road. As the deputy attempted to make contact with the two men, both left the location in separate vehicles and left the area quickly.

Deputies followed and stopped Rhodes after he violated a traffic signal. Rhodes was stopped on the highway and deputies smelled the odor of marijuana was coming from his vehicle, according to the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office. The deputy searched the vehicle, with Rhodes' consent, and found a quarter of a pound of marijuana and marijuana edibles. He was arrested without incident.  

Boykin was stopped separately and deputies also smelled the odor of marijuana coming from his vehicle. Deputies found 20 pounds of high-grade marijuana, a handgun and more than $6,000 in cash, according to the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office. Investigators learned that the money was derived from the sale of marijuana and that Rhodes transported the marijuana from Colorado for distribution in St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes. 

Boykin was arrested for possession of schedule I, transactions involving drug proceeds and possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled substance.  Rhodes was arrested on charges of possession of schedule I with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, transactions involving drug proceeds and failure to properly signal. 

According to the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office, no bond has been set at this time.