Court docs: Man at Columbia Airbnb found with more than 50 pounds of meth

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was renting an Airbnb in Columbia was arrested on Tuesday after authorities said they found him with 51 pounds of methamphetamine.

Ronald Dale Thornton III, 32, was charged on Wednesday with second-degree drug trafficking. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance was held Wednesday.

Thorton’s address is listed as Columbia, according to jail records and Casenet; however, the probable cause statement claims his primary residence is in St. Louis.

The probable cause statement says a search warrant was executed at an Airbnb on Tuesday. The address of the Airbnb was redacted in court documents. Thornton was inside the residence with 51 pounds of meth that was wrapped into 51 individual package, as well as more than $15,000 in cash, the statement says.

Court documents say the owner of the Airbnb told law enforcement that the location was rented to Thornton.