2 Accused Of Illegal Drug Possession After Taconic Stop

CLAVERACK, NY — Two downstate New Yorkers were accused of possessing illegal drugs after a traffic stop on the Taconic. State police said troopers stopped a 2019 Chevrolet around 4:50 p.m. May 23 on the Taconic State Parkway in the Town of Claverack for a violation of the vehicle and traffic law.

Police said the investigation found Benjamin C. Meyer, 24, of Brooklyn, and Zachary Costantini, 20, Levittown, had about 1.4 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 140 grams of edible marijuana, 54 grams of marijuana, 65 LSD dosages, 2.75 grams of LSD candy, 2.6 grams of MDMA, 2 grams of Adderall and 258 grams of concentrated cannabis.

During the traffic stop, Meyer attempted to tamper with evidence, police said.

He was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence, felonies, and four counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and one count of first-degree criminal possession of marijuana, misdemeanors.

Costantini was charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, three counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and one count of fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

Both men were arraigned in the Town of Claverack Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail or $20,000 bond.

They are next scheduled to appear in court May 29.

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